'Snowbal Warming' (From Staines Guardian)

'Snowbal Warming'

6:45pm Thursday 14th January 2010

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A warm welcome to 2010… or rather a chilly one, as the snow cascaded across Britain lifting the frost from any lingering New Years hangovers. While the South East may have achieved a respectable 4 inches of snow, it was Aviemore, Inverness which beat the competition with a staggering nineteen inches.

The early forecasts produced rumblings of excitement with the prospect of school and office closures looking probable. Although the hazardous driving conditions and reduced train services prevented the usual holiday fun, this inviting occasion bought children, friends and neighbours together to frolic in the snow.

However in-between the flurry and snowballs and beside the sledges and scarves perhaps there was a more serious message. What has happened to the usual January drizzle? With more than 2000 schools being closed, 1000 motorists being stranded and 5000 homes without electricity, are we really prepared for the varying weather extremes predicted?

Global Warming has been a topic hotly discussed, argued and contested across the world; but with all of the tabloid talk, why were only 29% of our roads treated, opposed to the usual 43%?

Although the snow is pretty and playful and provides a brief mass hysteria, much to the amusement of North America, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, the statistics provide an ominous and anxious insight into the next decade of winters.

Still, at least we can hope for some compensation; perhaps the wild winter will provide a scintillating summer as I for one, could do with a tan.

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