Blizzard conditions spread across the UK forcing Airports to close on Wednesday causing travel misery for air passengers.
The MET office issued severe weather warnings across the entire UK as snow fell to levels in excess of 30cm in some places and temperatures plummeted to minus 18 in certain places.
The extreme weather conditions will continue until the weekend causing disruption, school closures and hospitals stretched to their limit with fractures and broken bones due to falls etc as people struggle to get out in to get supplies.
Power supplies have also been cut with homes having to endure the extreme temperatures without lighting and warmth. The severe cold spell is due to cold weather sweeping over from Scandinavia and Russia and stalling over the UK.
The cost is more than just disruption to travel as businesses struggle to maintain staff levels as staff fail to turn up for work. It is estimated that more than 10% of workers decided not to go to work on Monday to Wednesday. This will cost the UK economy at least 600 million pounds per day! As staff are forced to stay home and look after children as schools close and the adverse weather prevents car travel and trains services are severely disrupted.
The impact on businesses have a domino effect as sales are down, staff still expect to be paid, as some orders are not being completed or merely delayed the impact of such adverse weather compounds to cause problems for weeks after it clears. Gatwick and Heathrow are struggling to clear runways only to have them covered in fresh snow again. Passengers are caught in the airport face sleeping in the terminals or finding accommodation if possible.
Forecasters have said the Home Counties including Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey and surrounding counties could be worst hit as Central London due to the sheer conurbation of large buildings tends to be always a few degrees higher will take the worst of the weather which unfortunately includes Gatwick in Surrey and Heathrow in Hounslow.
Heathrow is open but passengers are advised not to travel to Heathrow without first checking as cancellations and severe delays are impending as the weather is changing. Gatwick suffered more cancelations as it was forced to close over night with more than 120 flights cancelled with many more delayed. Luton airport was closed for a period with a total of 44 flights in and out of the airport canceled.
Make sure your flights are still on track and to book your airport parking