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Region wakes up to snow covered landscape
OVERNIGHT snow has brought traffic disuption to large parts of the region today.
Parts of the North-East and North Yorkshire were some of the hardest hit areas of the country as a blanket of heavy snow fell overnight.
North Yorkshire Police described the conditions as "horrendous" with a number of minor accidents on the county's roads.
A spokesman said: "There is plenty of snow and the major problem is with the roads. It is horrendous.
"The snow came down suddenly. Our advice is only drive if you really must. I drove six miles to work this morning and it was the worst I can remember for a long time.
"It is very icy and very cold. We have had no major incidents, just minor bumps but it is not very nice out there."
Durham Police said there had been heavy overnight snow across the whole of the county, particularly in the south.
A police spokesman said the A66 trans-Pennine route was closed for the second night running due to heavy snow.
Forecaster Laura Gilchrist, of MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said more snow was forecast to affect a wider area today.
She said: "We are not predicting anything like six inches of snow. Some of the higher roads in the north may be affected, but by the time it gets to the south the snow will probably settle briefly but then it will be daylight and it will struggle to stay.
"It will be a bit brighter later this afternoon, but we think it will be cold for most of the week. It might get a bit milder towards the end of the week."
The bad weather caused problems in the North-East as strong winds and snow lashed the coast and added to congestion on the roads, which were already experiencing high levels of traffic for the four-day holiday.
Forecasters say the UK is always more likely to have a white Easter than a white Christmas.
But the chances of snow were greatly increased this year because Easter Sunday is only one day after the official start of Spring.
Easter falls on a different weekend every year, but the rules stipulate that the Sunday must not fall before March 21.
Bookmakers William Hill said they were preparing to pay out 10,000-plus to successful punters who bet on a white Easter in London after offering odds of 8-1.
9:37am Sunday 23rd March 2008
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CommentPosted by: why am I not surprised, durham on 10:29am Sun 23 Mar 08
Why was the A66 closed? Were the council not prepared? This weather has been forcast for a week so they shold be able to cope with the amount of snow we got.
Why was the A66 closed? Were the council not prepared? This weather has been forcast for a week so they shold be able to cope with the amount of snow we got.
Posted by: me on 11:44am Sun 23 Mar 08
its one thing the council being prepared, but its a totally different thing when you consider the people who get stuck in the snow. A lot of people don't know how to handle a car in the snow and isn't it better shutting the road and being safe than having the big rescue mission as seen on Feb 1st?
also, a forecast doesn't always turn out the way it is stated to be - there can be no snow at all when it is forecast or there be no snow forecast yet we get a lot.
its one thing the council being prepared, but its a totally different thing when you consider the people who get stuck in the snow. A lot of people don't know how to handle a car in the snow and isn't it better shutting the road and being safe than having the big rescue mission as seen on Feb 1st?
also, a forecast doesn't always turn out the way it is stated to be - there can be no snow at all when it is forecast or there be no snow forecast yet we get a lot.
Posted by: kathleen Boden, Darlington on 1:50pm Sun 23 Mar 08
Another thing is the tires. Even good driver's have trouble in snow as the majority of tires in Britain are rain tires. You need to add chains.
Another thing is the tires. Even good driver's have trouble in snow as the majority of tires in Britain are rain tires. You need to add chains.
Posted by: Dan, Gateshead on 2:48pm Sun 23 Mar 08
Not sure where all this snow is, Ive had mates on the phone from richmond, darlington and bishop auckland and none have had any snow worth mentioning? Must be the magic of the A66 attracting this downfall that no one else has seen!
Not sure where all this snow is, Ive had mates on the phone from richmond, darlington and bishop auckland and none have had any snow worth mentioning? Must be the magic of the A66 attracting this downfall that no one else has seen!
Posted by: Nick W, Northallerton on 3:54pm Sun 23 Mar 08
Dan, there was 2 inches in Northallerton first thing, - I've the photos to prove it - and by 11:00 it'd mostly gone ! Then we have been to the other side of Bedale until 15:00. On the way there, by the time we'd got to the river Swale at Morton about 3 miles East there was barely any sign of snow! Now home 15:30 and the same here now, though it's just started snowing lightly again...
Dan, there was 2 inches in Northallerton first thing, - I've the photos to prove it - and by 11:00 it'd mostly gone ! Then we have been to the other side of Bedale until 15:00. On the way there, by the time we'd got to the river Swale at Morton about 3 miles East there was barely any sign of snow! Now home 15:30 and the same here now, though it's just started snowing lightly again...
Posted by: Smiffy, Durham on 5:00pm Sun 23 Mar 08
I was on the A66 yesterday in blizzards and still idiots trying to do a 100mph ...
It only takes one fool to crash to close off this road
People think because they can see Ok, forget to put there lights on to make aware their vehicle is visible to others !
I was on the A66 yesterday in blizzards and still idiots trying to do a 100mph ...
It only takes one fool to crash to close off this road
People think because they can see Ok, forget to put there lights on to make aware their vehicle is visible to others !
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