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Severe weather conditions led to travel disruptions throughout the UK today, as heavy snowfall resulted in grounded flights and meteorologists predicted temperatures to drop as low as -12C.
This morning, Glasgow airport halted all flights temporarily due to inclement weather. This included the cancellation of a flight bound for Lapland to visit Santa Claus.
A passenger stated that children were crying due to the cancellation, while another blamed the airport for causing distress. The airport resumed operations around 10am, but the first flight, an easyJet plane bound for London Stansted, which was scheduled for 6.35am, departed at 10.30am. The flight to Lapland did not take off as it would have landed in Finland after sunset.
Kids are having fun in the snow at Victoria Park in Glasgow.
The Scottish transportation center announced the airport’s closure this morning, stating that their teams had been working overnight.
Currently, the airport, formerly known as Twitter, announced that flight operations are on hold due to heavier snowfall than predicted. The winter teams have been tirelessly working overnight and aim to resume operations at the earliest opportunity.
A passenger expressed frustration, saying that it was common knowledge that there would be snow, so why was there a lack of preparation? This resulted in the closure of the runway, causing inconvenience and Tui having to cancel the Lapland flight.
Another person stated: “A plane full of crying children, who were supposed to see Santa in Lapland, are now leaving the airport because of your complete mismanagement.”
Forecasters predicted temperatures could reach as low as -12C overnight, prompting the Met Office to issue warnings for snow and ice across the nation. As a result, various sporting events have been cancelled.
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The runway at Glasgow airport covered in heavy snow.
A cautionary alert was effective from 6pm on Saturday until 12pm on Sunday for large portions of the Midlands, Yorkshire, the North East and North West regions of England, as well as North and Central Wales.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for snow in Cumbria on Saturday. They are cautioning that some areas may see 10cm-15cm of snow, with showers expected to decrease overnight.
It indicated potential for more interruptions to transportation and infrastructure in the North West England region. It also stated that there was a high possibility for rural communities to be isolated. Power outages were predicted, along with potential impact on services like mobile phone coverage.
The Met Office predicts that travel delays on roads are probable and may cause vehicles and passengers to become stranded. The forecast also warns of potential icy patches on untreated roads, sidewalks, and bike paths, which could result in injuries from slipping and falling on the ice.
A man is seen carrying a Christmas tree through a snowy field with his family at Mill Farm.
The statement also mentioned that the areas of Aberdeenshire, Moray, and Highland in Scotland may experience the coldest temperatures on Saturday night, possibly reaching -12C in certain valleys. Due to concerns about field safety, several football matches in the FA Cup and Scottish divisions have been postponed, and more cancellations are anticipated.
Flights to London Heathrow and Amsterdam were cancelled at Glasgow airport due to its closure for over nine hours. Snowploughs were utilized to remove the snow from the runway.
Several incoming flights were rerouted, held up, or terminated. The Wizz Air flight from Budapest arrived in Edinburgh, and a Ryanair plane from Malaga landed in Prestwick.
Glasgow airport has announced on X that their runway is now fully operational again. They are currently collaborating with their airline partners and handlers to resume regular flight schedules.
In the Kent Downs, sheep can be seen standing in a field covered with snow.
According to the regulations for air passengers in Europe, airlines are required to assist travelers in finding the next possible flight, even if it is with a different company, and provide food and accommodations if needed, in the event that their flight is cancelled for any reason.
Train services on the East Coast main line are being greatly affected today due to a strike by Aslef union train drivers. This has resulted in limited rail options for travelers.
The Glasgow Central station is facing significant delays because of heavy snow, and regular services are not anticipated to resume until 2pm.
Source: independent.co.uk
