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Original poster

Would you drive from Kent to Southport tomorrow (Sunday)

65 replies

Flowersandforests · 04/01/2025 09:39

Hi ladies - we are due to be going to a family party tomorrow in Southport and the plan was to drive up and then stay with family for a few nights. We would be driving through almost all of the Amber weather warning Sunday morning.

I think we should cancel especially as we have a 4 month old baby and I’m concerned about how dangerous the roads would be / if we got stuck on the motorway for hours and hours.

DH (whose family we are visiting) says it would be extremely rude to cancel this last minute and we should still go.

WWYD? I’ve looked at trains but it would involve lots of changes from our house and not sure they would be any better in the bad weather.

OP posts:
BrickRedLipstick · 04/01/2025 22:39

You’ve been warned not to travel so don’t. If you get into trouble I’d only feel sorry for the people who will have to risk their safety to rescue you.

Bloom15 · 04/01/2025 22:37

I'm in Liverpool so not far from Southport (and PIL closer again). No issues as yet but snow is due.

Just check the weather in the morning.

ElfAndSafetyBored · 04/01/2025 22:25

I think it’s really rude of your in laws to dismiss your safety (all of you) just because they want to see you.

It’s a really long, non-urgent journey, through sections of the UK with an Amber weather warning. And it’s not just about your competency of driving - it’s the other non competents who will be on the road that would worry me.

See how you feel tomorrow but only go if you feel safe. Don’t get guilted into it.

stichguru · 04/01/2025 22:14

Check the forecast in the morning. At the moment today/tomorrow for Southport is Sleet so no settling snow, it will be fine. However check tomorrow in case it has changed to more snow.

Peppapiggedout · 04/01/2025 22:13

No.

We did a u turn in bad weather with a little one because if we got very stuck- nappy changes, needing to BF or needing extra formula plus the risk of a little baby in the cold if there was a breakdown or something. I just had a gut feeling and went with it.

NigelHarmansNewWife · 04/01/2025 22:10

CuddlyDodoToy · 04/01/2025 09:53

There has been plenty of warning, so the major routes will have been treated. It's probably safe to travel if the driver is competent.

If you don't want to go and don't mind upsetting your in-laws, it's a handy excuse.

How does your husband feel about it? Who will be driving?

Edited

Such a glib answer.

I've only just seen your post OP. Had I seen it earlier, I'd have said travel today in daylight.

VWT5 · 04/01/2025 22:10

If travelling in these conditions consider setting off not before say 11 a.m. when ice begins to defrost, and aim to complete the journey by 3 p.m. - when water can start re-freezing (is what I had to do successfully in the past).

But check temperature forecasts for your route - it may well not be freezing.

Don’t let family pressurise you to travel when you judge it’s not safe to make an unnecessary journey. Especially with a baby. Your safety is everything.

(After a relative insisted I travel in severe adverse weather and a 3 hour journey took 7 hours). Trust your own judgement in the morning.

Tricho · 04/01/2025 22:10

Absolutely fucking not.

Londonrach1 · 04/01/2025 22:09

See what's it like in the morning
..it's not setting here and the rain has set in

deplorabelle · 04/01/2025 22:07

No, no, no and then no some more.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 04/01/2025 22:03

Not that far with a 4 month old in this weather no chance. Dp go by himself?
Oh and fuck what they say. Baby comes first and if they've got a problem with it fuck them that's their problem.

Horses7 · 04/01/2025 22:00

Send husband and stay at home

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 04/01/2025 21:38

We crashed in a snowstorm with DS when he was about 15 months old. It was crap. It took us 4 hours to get the last 10 miles home. So I wouldn't , just based on that experience.

verycloakanddaggers · 04/01/2025 21:33

It isn't rude to cancel, it is fine to cancel in these circumstances.

Clearinguptheclutter · 04/01/2025 21:32

If you’re going for a few days is it not an option to travel on Monday instead which looks calmer?

we’re not very far from Southport and we’re reconsidering a 30 mile journey for tomorrow. Will see how things are in the morning

sushibelt · 04/01/2025 21:29

DH can go by himself if he doesn't give a shit about anyone else's safety

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 04/01/2025 21:26

No I would send your DH alone if he's that keen

Bumpygritch · 04/01/2025 16:41

It’s not a vital journey.
If you could have gone first thing today then maybe. It’s unreasonable for anyone to expect you to travel through an amber weather warning for a party, doubly so with a baby. I wouldn’t be going and I wouldn’t want my partner to either.

ThinWomansBrain · 04/01/2025 15:04

your in laws are ridiculous for putting pressure on you
it's hardly an essential journey

Sparklybanana · 04/01/2025 15:04

Whilst I think cancelling would be the sensible idea - or head up ASAP, if you do go, then bring food and water, blankets, shovel, power banks etc, also fill up the car and figure out how youre gonna pee. There's a lot of snowfall forecast and if you end up stuck in a motorway standstill then you'll be glad that you have those items and it's not a bother taking extra items.

CurlewKate · 04/01/2025 14:59

I would check Waze in the morning. When are you coming back?

Seashor · 04/01/2025 14:56

Asking for trouble.

toomuchfaff · 04/01/2025 13:53

Not sure about Southport as this is an hour away but in Wigan area of the northwest there has been huge flooding, areas are under water, Bridgewater canal burst its banks and collapsed in places. The north West isn't a good place to be, go on some local community pages or news sites to see if its the same in Southport. Met Office shows this pic.

Would you drive from Kent to Southport tomorrow (Sunday)
Innocentrailway · 04/01/2025 10:13

With a baby, no I wouldn't risk this. Also, people saying motorways will be fine - er no, this isn't always the case. In some cases, rapid snowfall has meant roads being shut with no warning and trapping people overnight. Doesn't happen that often, but why risk it?

Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 04/01/2025 10:08

Absolutely not. The M6 is a notoriously bad motorway for issues and accidents anyway. But add snow in and things get infinitely worse.

His family are being selfish.

The Amber warning discourages anything but essential journeys. A party is not an essential journey. Should you have an accident hiunmaybalsomfind your insurance doesn't cover you as the earnings have been in place for a number of days.