Snowmageddon: The Beast from the East

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This week the UK has been hit with The Beast from the East and Storm Emma – a week-long heavy snow storm with temperatures falling to well below zero.

I can practically hear my Canadian friends guffawing from across the pond as they shovel the 10,000 feet of snow from their driveways for the third time today.

Schools and hospitals have closed, a Red Warning has been issued, there’s been panic buying in supermarkets, drivers have been stranded, operations have been cancelled… We’ve even had dedicated hour-long news programmes to cover the fact that we’ve had a lot of snow and it’s reeeeally cold.

As always, our incredible public service workers have been out in force, our hospital staff have been sleeping in the hospitals overnight (I will be always grateful to them for everything that they do), and there’s been endless stories of people who have gone out of their way to help those in need, because in times of crisis that’s what we do best.

The thing is, we’re not equipped for it, both as a country and as individuals. For such a small island we can hold our own in the world across every field of work, but when it comes to the weather we’re pretty accustomed to moderate, generally grey and in recent years LOTS of rain. Unless you live far in the north or very high in the hills it’s rare to see large amounts of snow for a prolonged period of time… Our cars, homes, transport systems and places of work can’t handle anything else. I can remember a week or two of snow here and there over the years, but I’ve never experienced the -6 degree type temperatures that hit me when I went outside yesterday and have a new found respect for anyone who deals with that regularly…

So, The Bloke has the day off today as there’s been a blanket closure of schools across Birmingham (the council made the decision, not the teachers before anyone starts bitching and complaining at me) and we’re taking the opportunity to have a duvet day, accompanied by a blissfully snoozy cat, Season 6 of Grey’s Anatomy followed by the second Avengers film and a packet of Mint Oreos.

Stay safe out there people…

53 thoughts on “Snowmageddon: The Beast from the East”

  1. That is a big storm system, Suzie! Yes, I’ve heard from “back home” in Canada that it’s been snow, snow, and then more! We don’t have any here in Chicago (Cher says in a whisper)! Having lived on the Canadian Prairies for many, many years, I can honestly say that I’ve had my fill of the crazy snow! Please stay safe, and the duvet day sounds divine! Sometimes snow come with advantages! 😉 Cher xo

  5. Stay safe and warm Suzie and the bloke! Took me two and a half hours to get home from work by the airport yesterday so I haven’t risked venturing out today!

  6. Honestly, I can’t remember when the UK has been pummeled by a snow storm either. And I’m a weather lover! Glad you got the day off!

  7. Have a lovely snow day Suzie!!

    I had a snow day last week, but we were all IN work, and told to go home (as it was getting more and more dangerous as more snow fell) I think I like the sound of a snow day when you can stay in bed!! That sounds even better!!

    Children all over the UK must be so happy about it!

    • I don’t know why they just didn’t tell you to stay in if they were going to send you home… That’s happened to me a few times and it’s so awful getting back again!

      • I guess it was because the snow storm was pretty sudden. When I left home it wasn’t snowing and there was no snow on the ground. It started snowing lightly at about 8am when I arrived at work, and then dumped a huge pile of snow in just a few hours!

        We all left at about 10:30am, and there was already piles and piles of snow!!

  9. I just wrote a snow day post of my own. You’re right – those of us in the northeast of the US are laughing at you. 🙂 Ten inches and counting so far with this storm.

  10. Sounds like a perfect way to celebrate the white stuff. We had six inches unexpectedly in Dec, when the hubs was down and out following his back surgery. I managed ok but I’m not the shoveller I used to be. It melted quickly..it’s the South, after all!

  11. I know how you feel. It’s getting quite cold around here. Went outside and had to come back in for a heavy polo top. Struth it must be close to 25C today. :o)

  12. Guffawing from across the pond 🙂
    Nah, I know that when you’re used to moderate winters -6 seems bad. Nice plan for a snow day, enjoy 🙂

  14. The schools here were closed before a single snowflake had fallen and it was the right decision. When it came, there was a lot of it. It’s melting now and that brings more problems.

  16. Hi Suzie,
    I know what you mean about not being suited to the cold. We have that problem here in much of Australia and when the temperature heads south of humph…16 degrees celsius, we complain. Anyway below 10 and we’re on strike. Mind you, my husband grew up in Tassie where it’s much colder, and his Dad used to work outdoors in all weather. Work had to be done.
    I have been enjoying what I call a doona and PJ day today. I’ve been fighting off a very nasty sinus cold for two weeks and need the rest. Besides, it’s overcast and blah here today. Not worth getting out of bed!
    xx Rowena

      • Things are pretty good.
        I’m just having a tough time scheduling a film shoot for a short piece based on my blog. Making sure everyone can get the same day off is proving to be quite the challenge.
        And I’d like to find some one to write some music to accompany some opening lyrics I wrote.

  19. I live a couple of miles away from one of the junctions to the M62 where it was closed. Absolute chaos. It closed sometime Thursday morning and wasn’t deemed safe to open again until very early Saturday morning due to 80mph winds up at the highest point on the highest motorway in England. Around 3,000 vehicles were stranded for hours and hours. Absolute nightmare. We woke to a record temperature for our bedroom Saturday morning of 5.9 degrees 😱

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  22. Here in the Northeast of the US (I am in Southern New Hampshire) we got 27 inches of snow a few days ago. I mean seriously? The first day of spring is in five days. I have HAD ENOUGH of it but another storm is on its way. I bet you never thought you’d wish for more grey and rain! I’d take it.

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