UK Weather – Drivers stranded for 9 HOURS & football matches CALLED OFF as Storm Larisa causes chaos with a foot of snow
PREMIER League games are at risk of being postponed as Storm Larisa causes chaos across the nation with a foot of snow.
Mansfield Town’s clash with Leyton Orient has already been called off and several others are hanging in the balance.
Storm Larisa continues to batter the UK, while the Met Office has issued an amber weather warning and told Brits to expect “strong winds bringing blizzard conditions“.
Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey explained a storm, which has been named by the French weather service, is bringing the freezing weather.
He said: “Storm Larisa, which Meteo France have named, is the same low pressure system that is bringing us the bands of rain.
“But essentially, we’re on the northern side of the low pressure system and it’s the southern side of that low pressure system that is going to be bringing particularly strong winds to parts of France.
“So that did originate out in the Atlantic and then it tracked its way eastward towards us, and the weather fronts that are swirling around that low pressure system have then been pushing into the cold air that has been in places across the UK and allowing that rain to start falling as snow across several areas.”
There are four yellow weather warnings for snow covering much of the UK, while South East England and Western Scotland escape the blizzards.
They warn: “Heavy snow is likely to cause significant disruption on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.
“Strong easterly winds are expected to accompany this snow, leading to blizzards and drifting of lying snow.”
Shocking video and photos showed hundreds of cars trapped on the M62 since 1am this morning after freezing conditions brought the vehicles to a standstill.
Brits have been forced to sit in traffic queues of up to nine hours, delay times that will only get worse as more people join the road through the day.
And plummeting icy temperatures saw Mansfield’s promotion clash with Leyton Orient called off due to a frozen pitch.
Snowy weather led Mansfield to hold a pitch inspection at 10am and match officials have judged the playing surface to be unplayable, allowing League Two leaders Orient to avoid travelling.
Mansfield revealed pitch covers have been in place since Sunday but heavy snowfall has led to safety concerns.
A statement read: “Following a pitch inspection this morning at One Call Stadium, Mansfield Town’s Sky Bet League Two encounter at home to Leyton Orient, scheduled for tomorrow, has been postponed.
“Covers have been on the field of play since Sunday, however, due to heavy snowfall and general safety concerns, the referee deemed the pitch unplayable after a 10am pitch inspection.
“The club was mindful to call a pitch inspection as early as possible to maximise the advance notice for both sets of supporters.”
This comes as concerns grow surrounding the possibility of the Leeds‘ match with Brighton on Saturday as West Yorkshire city has been covered with ice and snow for days.
The disruption has so far affected roads and schools – with many forced to close their doors to pupils.
Fans are also anxious to see if the Leicester v Chelsea game will go ahead as temperatures are forecast to reach lows of -6C tonight – which could see a frozen pitch Saturday morning.
Merseyside has not managed to escape Storm Larisa either, with heavy snowfall cancelling trains and schools – putting the Everton v Brentford clash at risk in Goodison Park.
Hull Live has reported Coventry’s Championship game with Hull is precariously hanging in the balance with high levels of snow battering the Midlands.
No cancellations have been confirmed.
This comes as Storm Larisa continues to wreak havoc across the nation, affecting roads, railways and schools.
Railway lines between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield have been cancelled due to gusts of up to 50pmh, and services across Huddersfield, Leeds, York and Chester are similarly delayed or suspended.
National Highways, the Government-owned organisation responsible for England’s motorways and major A roads, told motorists: “We are currently experiencing very high call volumes to our call centre, so you may encounter a delay if trying to get through to us.”
The organisation’s executive director of operations, Duncan Smith, said: “We are well prepared and our gritters have been out in full force since Friday March 3 and will continue to treat the roads.
“We are asking drivers to plan ahead, check the forecast and allow more time for their journeys.”
If your train has been cancelled or delayed due to snow, you could be entitled to compensation – read here for more information.
Parents across the country have been left in the lurch as schools also close due to the harsh conditions.
For a full list of all known shutdowns so far read here.
And disruption is set to continue with further weather warnings predicted across the weekend for ice and snow.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “The boundary between milder and colder air is gradually moving north, with some heavy and persistent snow likely at times on the northern edge of this boundary.
“Snow has already settled quite widely in centrals parts of the UK and further accumulations are likely even to lower levels with disruption most likely for those within the amber warning areas.
“With some strong winds accompanying these snow showers, blizzard conditions are likely for a time in northern England and Wales, as well as parts of Northern Ireland.
“Ice will be a continuing hazard for many in the forecast period, with very low overnight temperatures likely to exacerbate continued likely travel disruption.”