Snow Closes Schools And Disrupts Travel Nationwide

Snow that refused to pack away with the holidays has left hundreds of schools shut and travel in chaos across parts of the UK and Ireland. Heavy falls and icy roads have forced flight cancellations, rail suspensions and thousands of families to rethink the school run. Amber warnings for significant snowfall remain over swathes of Scotland, while yellow alerts for snow and ice stretch across much of the UK and all counties of Ireland. The Met Office reported depths of around 34cm at Loch Glascarnoch, with 27cm at both Dyce in Aberdeenshire and Altnaharra in Sutherland. Forecasters warned rural communities could become isolated, with another 10cm possible in low-lying areas and 20–30cm on higher ground. Schools across island and northern communities were particularly hard hit. Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles, Aberdeenshire and many in Moray kept pupils at home on Monday. In Northern Ireland, 186 schools closed, affecting thousands. “It is very, very bad,” said Philip McCullagh, principal of St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s College in Claudy, explaining that icy sites and blocked footpaths made opening impossible. Transport services were badly affected. Network Rail Scotland warned heavy and drifting snow would probably stop trains from running until at least midday on several routes, including Aberdeen–Dundee, Aberdeen–Inverness, Inverness–Wick/Thurso and Inverness–Kyle of Lochalsh. Airports also felt the strain: Loganair pulled flights from Aberdeen and Inverness, Liverpool Airport temporarily shut a runway early on Monday, and Belfast’s airports saw cancellations. Eurostar advised travellers between London and the Netherlands to delay trips after services beyond Brussels were cancelled. On the roads, authorities urged caution. Police Service of Northern Ireland reminded drivers to clear windows, slow down and leave extra stopping distance. The RAC warned people to travel only if essential and to prepare for longer stops and possible breakdowns. It suggested carrying warm waterproof clothing, sturdy footwear, a hot drink and a power bank for phones. Scotland’s transport secretary, Fiona Hyslop, thanked gritters, chainsaw teams, police and other frontline staff working in difficult conditions and urged people to delay journeys where possible. For many, the first working week after the holidays has turned into a logistical headache — and a reminder that winter planning still matters. If you must travel, allow extra time, check before you set off, and consider postponing non-essential trips until warnings ease. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.theguardian.com | Read original article