County braced for heavy snow and blizzards (From Cotswold Journal)
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County braced for heavy snow and blizzards
5:31pm Wednesday 16th January 2013 in News By Neil Watts
ICY ROADS: Motorists are being urged to take extra care on the county’s roads as the cold snap begins to bite.
WORCESTERSHIRE is bracing itself for heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions on Friday as the cold snap looks set to worsen.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for the West Midlands.
A depth of 10-15cm of snow is widely expected, with 25cm or more falling over hills and on higher ground between 4am and 6pm.
Blizzard conditions are also likely as winds strengthen from the southwest, creating the potential for some severe disruption on the county’s roads.
Eddy Carroll, the Met Office’s chief forecaster, said: “The snow is expected to be heaviest through Friday morning, slowly weakening and clearing east during the second half of the day. Clearly there is the potential for significant disruption to people’s plans.”
The weather is predicted to improve over the weekend but further outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow are expected to push in from the west at times. The snow that has fallen will be slow to melt and ice will continue to be a risk, especially at night.
An amber warning means people need to be prepared for the weather and take steps to protect themselves from the impacts of the severe weather.
Worcestershire County Council’s gritters were due out in force again on all primary and secondary routes from 4pm today.
Some sections of road identified as more hazardous were set to receive an additional treatment from 4.30am, with freezing fog, light snow or sleet a possibility during the night.
With temperatures reaching lows of -5C overnight, West Mercia Police received reports of several accidents on the roads due to the icy conditions.
The AA has told motorists to take measures to prepare for the continuing cold weather and coming snow, including carrying out basic checks, carrying plenty of warm clothing, blankets, de-icer and a scraper as well as food, a hot flask and a fully-charged mobile.
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Comments(27)
More Tea Vicar
says...
5:48pm Wed 16 Jan 13
saucerer
says...
9:06pm Wed 16 Jan 13
pinkfluff
says...
9:30pm Wed 16 Jan 13
More Tea Vicar wrote:Head between knees I think lol.
Can OUR Evening News give us instructions on how to 'brace' ourselves for snow, please?
Agree about the signs, I wouldn't know which one to look at first, my poor little brain would struggle to cope. Sensory overload.
Respectable
says...
9:34pm Wed 16 Jan 13
Biggles
says...
10:37pm Wed 16 Jan 13
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We can't say we haven't been advised as to what conditions are expected.
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On that basis, I'm very grateful for the article, and warnings.
batchelorboy
says...
10:50pm Wed 16 Jan 13
More Tea Vicar wrote:I'm prepared...
Can OUR Evening News give us instructions on how to 'brace' ourselves for snow, please?
I got my walking boots out! :)
Biggles
says...
11:15pm Wed 16 Jan 13
batchelorboy wrote:Same here.
More Tea Vicar wrote: Can OUR Evening News give us instructions on how to 'brace' ourselves for snow, please?I'm prepared... I got my walking boots out! :)
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I'll unload my car tomorrow night at the workshop, then if I do end up not being able to drive on Friday, (my "ultimate driving machine" does not do snow at all lol), at least I can walk down to the workshop to do some work.
Redhillman
says...
7:58am Thu 17 Jan 13
saucerer wrote:7 signs within a couple of hundred yards. Where's the one which says vehicles on the road?
How many signs in that photo?
Karl Hunderson
says...
8:27am Thu 17 Jan 13
Redhillman wrote:There was an accident on this corner Tuesday morning, I am assuming it was due to the fact the road was covered in ice caused by water run off from private land. Not sure you can fault anybody for at least trying to make people aware of potential hazards. Hopefully people will notice the additional ice warning sign and drive appropriately although the council were on the scene at the same time as the police on Tuesday clearing the ice. I expect Saucerer will claim that they should have acted sooner as if they were some kind of omnipresence on our roads.
saucerer wrote:7 signs within a couple of hundred yards. Where's the one which says vehicles on the road?
How many signs in that photo?
mr_wilson15
says...
9:16am Thu 17 Jan 13
Karl Hunderson wrote:It's as well they preceeded the "slippery road" sign with one warning of ice. Now people might take care around the 30mph corner. How many warnings do people need?!?!
Redhillman wrote:There was an accident on this corner Tuesday morning, I am assuming it was due to the fact the road was covered in ice caused by water run off from private land. Not sure you can fault anybody for at least trying to make people aware of potential hazards. Hopefully people will notice the additional ice warning sign and drive appropriately although the council were on the scene at the same time as the police on Tuesday clearing the ice. I expect Saucerer will claim that they should have acted sooner as if they were some kind of omnipresence on our roads.
saucerer wrote:7 signs within a couple of hundred yards. Where's the one which says vehicles on the road?
How many signs in that photo?
More Tea Vicar
says...
3:27pm Thu 17 Jan 13
batchelorboy wrote:And there was me in the air crash brace position.
More Tea Vicar wrote:I'm prepared...
Can OUR Evening News give us instructions on how to 'brace' ourselves for snow, please?
I got my walking boots out! :)
I feel so silly.
More Tea Vicar
says...
3:31pm Thu 17 Jan 13
mr_wilson15 wrote:It is difficult to strike the right balance.
Karl Hunderson wrote:It's as well they preceeded the "slippery road" sign with one warning of ice. Now people might take care around the 30mph corner. How many warnings do people need?!?!
Redhillman wrote:There was an accident on this corner Tuesday morning, I am assuming it was due to the fact the road was covered in ice caused by water run off from private land. Not sure you can fault anybody for at least trying to make people aware of potential hazards. Hopefully people will notice the additional ice warning sign and drive appropriately although the council were on the scene at the same time as the police on Tuesday clearing the ice. I expect Saucerer will claim that they should have acted sooner as if they were some kind of omnipresence on our roads.
saucerer wrote:7 signs within a couple of hundred yards. Where's the one which says vehicles on the road?
How many signs in that photo?
The WN is right to warn about the possibility of cold weather. The Council is right to put the signs out.
Equally, the Council can't be expected to grit every yard of every road in the County.
My only issue would be with the WN's sometimes rather florid language. And even then, it's not much of an issue.
I do like a quiet chortle, though. And maybe I should get out more. After the snow's gone.
Anyway, back to work.....stuff to sell, coffee to drink ......
TDH123
says...
4:01pm Thu 17 Jan 13
Omicron
says...
5:25pm Thu 17 Jan 13
No doubt the country will fall apart and people will use it as an excuse as to why not to go to work.
What intrigues me is how snow can prevent people going to work but doesn't necessarily prevent them from getting home.
Omicron
says...
5:26pm Thu 17 Jan 13
No doubt the country will fall apart and people will use it as an excuse as to why not to go to work.
What intrigues me is how snow can prevent people going to work but doesn't necessarily prevent them from getting home.
TDH123
says...
7:56pm Thu 17 Jan 13
ispywithmylitleeye
says...
8:15pm Thu 17 Jan 13
saucerer wrote:Yes, but if you were travelling at 60 miles an hour and skidded around the sharp bend while hitting a deer. You would be the first to complain if there were no signs..
How many signs in that photo?
saucerer
says...
10:11pm Thu 17 Jan 13
DEMRICS
says...
10:23pm Thu 17 Jan 13
saucerer wrote:Sounds about right, our highways people behind everyone else. I bet most of them will shirk from their duties tomorrow and won't be at work because of the snow, neglecting the duties we pay them to undertake.
I see other counties have more gritters and are able to clear more roads than Worcestershire. Staffordshire for example have twice as many gritters and are able to treat 80% of their roads, much much more than Worcestershire County Council.
saucerer
says...
10:40pm Thu 17 Jan 13
jovialcommonsense
says...
11:49pm Thu 17 Jan 13
saucerer wrote:I think you will find these guys are responding at short notice to unsociable working hours to try and enable all of us to travel safer.
Jon Fraser has just been on BBC Midlands Today asking their viewers to spare a thought for his department as they grit roads through the night. So he's asking us to be grateful towards the highways department for doing what they're paid to do anyway. Well, lets hold party for them to then while we celebrate their achievements.
They do this to the detriment of themselves and their friends and families.
Because of people with attitudes like yours I would not do it and would prefer to leave them to their own means.
More Tea Vicar
says...
8:50am Fri 18 Jan 13
jovialcommonsense wrote:But it's what they're paid for...like ambulance staff, police, hospital workers, factory shift workers...
saucerer wrote:I think you will find these guys are responding at short notice to unsociable working hours to try and enable all of us to travel safer.
Jon Fraser has just been on BBC Midlands Today asking their viewers to spare a thought for his department as they grit roads through the night. So he's asking us to be grateful towards the highways department for doing what they're paid to do anyway. Well, lets hold party for them to then while we celebrate their achievements.
They do this to the detriment of themselves and their friends and families.
Because of people with attitudes like yours I would not do it and would prefer to leave them to their own means.
It's just part of the job.
I actually think they seem to have done ok, so I'm not particularly knocking them. I just don't think it should be regarded as anything particularly out of the ordinary. It's just their job.
jovialcommonsense
says...
10:46am Fri 18 Jan 13
More Tea Vicar wrote:I agree MTV, but these people who "volunteered" to be paid for this do not sit around 365 days a year waiting to grit our roads. They will probably be employed as council drivers in other services, so are working extra.
jovialcommonsense wrote:But it's what they're paid for...like ambulance staff, police, hospital workers, factory shift workers...
saucerer wrote:I think you will find these guys are responding at short notice to unsociable working hours to try and enable all of us to travel safer.
Jon Fraser has just been on BBC Midlands Today asking their viewers to spare a thought for his department as they grit roads through the night. So he's asking us to be grateful towards the highways department for doing what they're paid to do anyway. Well, lets hold party for them to then while we celebrate their achievements.
They do this to the detriment of themselves and their friends and families.
Because of people with attitudes like yours I would not do it and would prefer to leave them to their own means.
It's just part of the job.
I actually think they seem to have done ok, so I'm not particularly knocking them. I just don't think it should be regarded as anything particularly out of the ordinary. It's just their job.
If someone is paid to do a job it shouldn't stop us appreciating their endeavours.
pinkfluff
says...
12:59pm Fri 18 Jan 13
jovialcommonsense wrote:I agree jovial.
More Tea Vicar wrote:I agree MTV, but these people who "volunteered" to be paid for this do not sit around 365 days a year waiting to grit our roads. They will probably be employed as council drivers in other services, so are working extra.
jovialcommonsense wrote:But it's what they're paid for...like ambulance staff, police, hospital workers, factory shift workers...
saucerer wrote:I think you will find these guys are responding at short notice to unsociable working hours to try and enable all of us to travel safer.
Jon Fraser has just been on BBC Midlands Today asking their viewers to spare a thought for his department as they grit roads through the night. So he's asking us to be grateful towards the highways department for doing what they're paid to do anyway. Well, lets hold party for them to then while we celebrate their achievements.
They do this to the detriment of themselves and their friends and families.
Because of people with attitudes like yours I would not do it and would prefer to leave them to their own means.
It's just part of the job.
I actually think they seem to have done ok, so I'm not particularly knocking them. I just don't think it should be regarded as anything particularly out of the ordinary. It's just their job.
If someone is paid to do a job it shouldn't stop us appreciating their endeavours.
@mtv Yes it may be their job and they get paid but they care. If they didn't no one would do the job in the first place. Imagine that? No police, fire fighters or ambulance drivers. A little credit where credit is due would be nice.
saucerer
says...
1:10pm Fri 18 Jan 13
jovialcommonsense
says...
2:41pm Fri 18 Jan 13
saucerer wrote:I hope they don't grit and plough your road. It's much better having you trapped at your computer, allowing you to enlighten us with your wisdom.
I wonder whether the roads on which council staff live on will be gritted and ploughed.
Guy66
says...
7:15pm Mon 21 Jan 13
jovialcommonsense wrote:If you want to spend the time mapping council staff addresses to gritting routes here is your starting point - http://gis.worcester
saucerer wrote:I hope they don't grit and plough your road. It's much better having you trapped at your computer, allowing you to enlighten us with your wisdom.
I wonder whether the roads on which council staff live on will be gritted and ploughed.
shire.gov.uk/wccgiso
nline/maps.aspx?l=39
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