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| 'Build snowman' advice amended by Environment Agency | 'Build snowman' advice amended by Environment Agency |
| (2 months later) | |
| The Environment Agency has amended its advice on the best way to deal with the looming thaw after conceding that urging everyone to build a snowman would probably do little to lessen the risk of flooding. | The Environment Agency has amended its advice on the best way to deal with the looming thaw after conceding that urging everyone to build a snowman would probably do little to lessen the risk of flooding. |
| Amid fears that the recent snow will melt into floodwater as temperatures pick up over the weekend, the agency had offered worried homeowners an unorthodox suggestion. | Amid fears that the recent snow will melt into floodwater as temperatures pick up over the weekend, the agency had offered worried homeowners an unorthodox suggestion. |
| "Ideally, if everybody built themselves a snowman that will slow the thaw down a bit," said Roy Stokes, a spokesman for the agency. | "Ideally, if everybody built themselves a snowman that will slow the thaw down a bit," said Roy Stokes, a spokesman for the agency. |
| He pointed out that tightly-packed blocks of snow – such as snowmen – tend to stay colder for longer, thus helping to regulate the flow of water. | He pointed out that tightly-packed blocks of snow – such as snowmen – tend to stay colder for longer, thus helping to regulate the flow of water. |
| "If you notice, when people clear their drive the snow thaws away but the compacted piles stay, which will give a balanced thaw, which would be helpful," he said. | "If you notice, when people clear their drive the snow thaws away but the compacted piles stay, which will give a balanced thaw, which would be helpful," he said. |
| Although Stokes's exhortation may have delighted legions of children (and more than a few grownups), it was sadly overruled, with an EA spokeswoman later admitting that a nationwide phalanx of Frosties would do little to stem the floodwaters. | Although Stokes's exhortation may have delighted legions of children (and more than a few grownups), it was sadly overruled, with an EA spokeswoman later admitting that a nationwide phalanx of Frosties would do little to stem the floodwaters. |
| "When snow is compacted, as it is when you build a snowman or drive over it in a car park for example, it melts at a slower rate," she said. | "When snow is compacted, as it is when you build a snowman or drive over it in a car park for example, it melts at a slower rate," she said. |
| "But while building snowmen is great fun, sadly it is unlikely to make a significant difference to the overall rate at which the snow melts across the country and won't protect your home from flooding." | "But while building snowmen is great fun, sadly it is unlikely to make a significant difference to the overall rate at which the snow melts across the country and won't protect your home from flooding." |
| A final heavy snowfall is predicted to hit Britain on Friday, focusing on northern England and southern Scotland, which will see up to 15cm in high ground. | A final heavy snowfall is predicted to hit Britain on Friday, focusing on northern England and southern Scotland, which will see up to 15cm in high ground. |
| Thursday will see only light flurries of snow compared with recent days, felt along the eastern coast and in the Midlands. | Thursday will see only light flurries of snow compared with recent days, felt along the eastern coast and in the Midlands. |
| A sharp increase in temperature, possibly reaching 10C in the south-west on Sunday, will be coupled with rain crossing the south-west on Friday and further showers over parts of the UK at the weekend. | A sharp increase in temperature, possibly reaching 10C in the south-west on Sunday, will be coupled with rain crossing the south-west on Friday and further showers over parts of the UK at the weekend. |
| Nick Prebble, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: "It was noticeably milder overnight than earlier this week and will be milder throughout the day; it will turn out to be a lovely, sunny winter's day for much of the UK. | Nick Prebble, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: "It was noticeably milder overnight than earlier this week and will be milder throughout the day; it will turn out to be a lovely, sunny winter's day for much of the UK. |
| "Tomorrow will see a band of snow, sleet and rain come across from the west and push eastwards into Saturday morning. | "Tomorrow will see a band of snow, sleet and rain come across from the west and push eastwards into Saturday morning. |
| "But that will be the last of the snow before an unsettled, milder week next week." | "But that will be the last of the snow before an unsettled, milder week next week." |
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