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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/27/snow-ice-and-strong-winds-hit-large-parts-of-uk
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| Hundreds stranded at UK airports as snow and ice cause disruption | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Motorists have had to abandon their vehicles in icy conditions in the Lake District and hundreds of passengers have been stranded at airports after their flights were delayed, with the bad weather expected to cause further travel disruption across the UK. | Motorists have had to abandon their vehicles in icy conditions in the Lake District and hundreds of passengers have been stranded at airports after their flights were delayed, with the bad weather expected to cause further travel disruption across the UK. |
| About 300 people were stuck at Stansted airport late on Wednesday evening while waiting to rebook flights following a series of Ryanair and easyJet flight cancellations caused by the weather, the airport said. | About 300 people were stuck at Stansted airport late on Wednesday evening while waiting to rebook flights following a series of Ryanair and easyJet flight cancellations caused by the weather, the airport said. |
| Frustrated passengers vented their anger on social media after waiting several hours for information, complaining they had been told to return to the airport in the morning to collect their luggage. | Frustrated passengers vented their anger on social media after waiting several hours for information, complaining they had been told to return to the airport in the morning to collect their luggage. |
| One woman posted: | |
| 2 hour delay in Dublin, 2 hour delay in Stansted (& counting), no ground staff, no bags, no water, queues for empty vending machines, mum's struggling with babies without prams #nightmare @Ryanair @STN_Airport this is disgraceful! #stanstedshitshow pic.twitter.com/8NRjuFUgoy | |
| On the roads, the RAC said it expected to help more than 9,000 motorists by the end of the day, with many callouts relating to damage from potholes caused by freezing weather and high water levels. | On the roads, the RAC said it expected to help more than 9,000 motorists by the end of the day, with many callouts relating to damage from potholes caused by freezing weather and high water levels. |
| Police said drivers abandoned their vehicles on Honister Pass in the Lake District due to icy conditions. | Police said drivers abandoned their vehicles on Honister Pass in the Lake District due to icy conditions. |
| The Met Office issued a yellow warning for ice across large parts of the UK for Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, and isolated snowfall was expected on higher ground in England, Wales and Scotland. | The Met Office issued a yellow warning for ice across large parts of the UK for Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, and isolated snowfall was expected on higher ground in England, Wales and Scotland. |
| On Wednesday morning, motorists on the A14 in the east Midlands were at a standstill for more than seven hours after multiple collisions in snow and ice. The road was reopened in both directions in early afternoon, albeit with traffic still moving slowly in some places. | On Wednesday morning, motorists on the A14 in the east Midlands were at a standstill for more than seven hours after multiple collisions in snow and ice. The road was reopened in both directions in early afternoon, albeit with traffic still moving slowly in some places. |
| The RAC told drivers to check weather reports, leave extra time for journeys and pack winter travel kits before leaving home. It warned of black ice on the roads on Wednesday evening. | The RAC told drivers to check weather reports, leave extra time for journeys and pack winter travel kits before leaving home. It warned of black ice on the roads on Wednesday evening. |
| Pete Williams, a spokesman, said: “We are experiencing higher breakdown volumes than expected with callouts up by 15%-20% compared with seasonal norms. | Pete Williams, a spokesman, said: “We are experiencing higher breakdown volumes than expected with callouts up by 15%-20% compared with seasonal norms. |
| Heading out this evening? #Ice will begin to form on untreated surfaces, with #wintry showers in the north and west #weatheraware pic.twitter.com/uZzwSQpmO3 | Heading out this evening? #Ice will begin to form on untreated surfaces, with #wintry showers in the north and west #weatheraware pic.twitter.com/uZzwSQpmO3 |
| “It’s busiest in the Midlands, eastern England, the north, south-west, Kent and south London, with snow and ice making driving hazardous for many. We are also seeing a significant increase in vehicles with pothole-related damage – so punctures, wheel damage, steering and suspension problems. | “It’s busiest in the Midlands, eastern England, the north, south-west, Kent and south London, with snow and ice making driving hazardous for many. We are also seeing a significant increase in vehicles with pothole-related damage – so punctures, wheel damage, steering and suspension problems. |
| “The toxic combination of high water levels, ice and snow is causing many road surfaces to crumble, causing potholes to open up.” | “The toxic combination of high water levels, ice and snow is causing many road surfaces to crumble, causing potholes to open up.” |
| Thousands of people were left without power on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning as freezing temperatures and strong winds swept in. Western Power Distribution, which serves the Midlands, Wales and the south-west, said more than 14,000 properties were affected. | Thousands of people were left without power on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning as freezing temperatures and strong winds swept in. Western Power Distribution, which serves the Midlands, Wales and the south-west, said more than 14,000 properties were affected. |
| The rain and snow was not expected to clear the UK mainland until about 7pm, although showers were expected to become lighter and patchy as the day progressed. | The rain and snow was not expected to clear the UK mainland until about 7pm, although showers were expected to become lighter and patchy as the day progressed. |
| Simon Partridge, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “We have had some quickly changing weather overnight, with a band of heavy rain and hill snow that started in the south-west and is gradually moving north and eastwards. That’s crossed Wales and is just lying over central southern England, and it has brought some snow with it.” | Simon Partridge, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “We have had some quickly changing weather overnight, with a band of heavy rain and hill snow that started in the south-west and is gradually moving north and eastwards. That’s crossed Wales and is just lying over central southern England, and it has brought some snow with it.” |
| Stuck A14 West Bound between junctions 2-3 in Northamptonshire. Haven’t moved for over 3 hours!! #thankgoodnessfornetflix #uksnow #weather pic.twitter.com/hfsKYg8NIK | Stuck A14 West Bound between junctions 2-3 in Northamptonshire. Haven’t moved for over 3 hours!! #thankgoodnessfornetflix #uksnow #weather pic.twitter.com/hfsKYg8NIK |
| Up to 7cm (2.8in) of snow fell over Exmoor, south Wales and the Cotswolds overnight, and there were also flurries in other areas. | Up to 7cm (2.8in) of snow fell over Exmoor, south Wales and the Cotswolds overnight, and there were also flurries in other areas. |
| “We have had a number of reports of areas affected; it shut part of the M5 just south of Bristol because lorries could not get uphill,” Partridge said. | “We have had a number of reports of areas affected; it shut part of the M5 just south of Bristol because lorries could not get uphill,” Partridge said. |
| “There [have] also been some power cuts reported and road traffic accidents as well, although these have been more to do with surface water.” | “There [have] also been some power cuts reported and road traffic accidents as well, although these have been more to do with surface water.” |
| Strong winds were recorded in parts of the south-west overnight, with gusts of up to 50mph across Cornwall. | Strong winds were recorded in parts of the south-west overnight, with gusts of up to 50mph across Cornwall. |
| The government’s flood information service for England has nine warnings in force, where flooding is expected and immediate action required, and 94 alerts, where flooding is possible and people should be prepared. | The government’s flood information service for England has nine warnings in force, where flooding is expected and immediate action required, and 94 alerts, where flooding is possible and people should be prepared. |