Heavy Snow Takes Britons by Surprise

Cars skidded, people slipped, trains stopped and hospitals turned back non-emergency patients as heavy snows sweeping in from the east blanketed much of Britain on Monday, taking the nation by surprise with its severity despite alarm-laden weather forecasts.

Londoners do not routinely see much winter snow and the city rarely seems prepared for unusual precipitations. “You get half an inch of snow in this place and everything falls apart,” said a stranded north London commuter.

In Westminster, where the British Parliament and many government offices are located, the streets were deserted. Lunch places, like Pret A Manger and Starbucks were empty and clothing retail stores remained shut.

At Victoria station, one of the capital’s main train stations, the large board announcing departure times was blank. No trains were due to arrive or leave until further notice.

Many workers were told to stay at home, while those that made it into work were told to leave early.

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Snow has forced Heathrow Airport to shut down both its runways. The whole of the city’s transport network has been crippled. Bus services, and even a number of underground lines have been suspended, while schools were shut down as the city was brought to a standstill.