To think that the TV and newspapers wouldn't give a shit about this storm if it hadn't happened in the South East?

[CiderBomb]

All morning I've been hearing on the news about the terrible storm that has apparently hit " Britain" in the early hours of this morning, however here we've had absolutely nothing apart from a bit of heavy rain. Seems like it was just the South East, but no surprises there because for a lot of people in the media that's where the British Isles apparently begins and ends....

I've just watched This Morning and they are talking about it like the whole country is affected, then Eamonn makes a snotty comment along the lines of "people on Twitter are saying that just because they are not affected we shouldn't be talking about it". Maybe they are just thinking the same way as I am, that a small part of the country was affected by bad weather, but the majority of us got off scot free?

I can't help but wonder how this would have been reported had the storm come in from the North Sea and devastated Scotland and the North East?......

Yes, but it those things that makes us in the North roll their eyes and that leads to the assumption that our weather related news doesn't get half so much coverage.

It is horribly tragic that anyone has lost their life due to weather, no matter what part of the country they are in.

Isnt it rather the case that the media is not whipping up a storm about hurricanes affecting a place on a regular basis?

In the north of Norway where I am from, there is "storm season" throughout January and February. It is hardly ever mentioned, people just check the weather forecast and act accordingly. All trampolines, garden furniture, ornaments are taken in for winter as a matter of course. There is nothing laying around outside over winter. Aside from snow shovels next to every front door, and bins. These get secured for storms. People just shrugh and say "We know where we live, why would the weather surprise us?"

I reckon it is the same in Scotland? It is not newsworthy when it happens so regularly. This storm, was predicted to be the biggest in 26 years, surely you can see that this would be on the news? People are not used to such severe weather, and dont know how to act, or move things indoors, unless they are told specifically. It needs to be in the news to inform people what to do, what precautions to take, as otherwise they would just carry on as normal.

The point is, the south is not used to these kinds of storms, so just like the country comes to a standstill in snow, so storms can wreck havoc. The infrastructure is not built to cope with regular hurricanes and snowfall. Life in the arctic is never affected by snowfall. And why is that? Every car has winter tyres. There is a whole fleet of snowploughs ready to act, and go out routinely. Some places even have tunnel systems where people can drive safely.

I've yet to see our fleet of snowploughs.

I get that those of us who are more northerly are used to this kind of weather. But I do think the media has whipped up more of a storm than the actual weather.

I dont think it is a bad thing, if they have whipped up a storm about the weather. Maybe more injuries/accidents/deaths would have happened without people being informed and taking precautions.

"I've yet to see our fleet of snowploughs. " I am sure you would have one, if you were covered in snow from October to May, and had daily snowfall requiring ploughs out 2-3 times per day just to have clear roads.

I don't think that at all clam, I do think that less time was put into reporting it though. I do admit I am sensitive on this one though as this lady's accident/aftermath was witnessed by my daughter so maybe I am not totally objective.

Scottish weather is generally cooler than, but otherwise pretty similar to, the rest of the UK - ie mild and temperate.

Tell that to my friend who was caught in storm force winds last week that were so bad that where she lives had no water. Their power goes out regularly too.

I'm all for reporting and informing people but I think it went a bit over the top.

I have another friend in the South who was most miffed last year when all the local schools closed before there was any snow as a precaution. That is just daft.

Does your friend live in the far north or the highlands? Remote/ higher up places are more likely to be affected by severe weather and yes weather is colder.

It's not the case that it never happens (excuse the double negative), but for highly populated urban areas (eg central belt) the weather is pretty similar.

Some people seem to have the impression that Scottish weather is significantly different to the rest of the UK - but it isn't really.

My point is that who knows why editors 'showcase' some stories more than others? But I'm pretty sure it's not down to whether they hail from the North or South.

I really ought to add the caveat "in my experience".

Yes.

Tbh I found the whole uproar and general shock about last year's snow (in the South) hilarious. I live in a city in the NE. None of our schools shut (unless their heating failed) and we were hit a fair bit worse and for longer. Public transport stopped for half a day, including the metro when it got really bad.

Yes the coverage about snow last year was OTT and silly.

When NO trains are running in a region where hundreds of thousands of people commute daily to London and ALL major road in the area are affected by either debris, congestion or are impassable due to fallen tree''s then I think that it is a bloody big deal. I think that the media coverage helped to prevent more tragedies. Sorry if that bores the rest of the country but it was a big deal. When areas up north (thinking North Wales and Cumbria) where really badly flooded people in the South East didn't start complaining about extensive media coverage.

YABU and should be grateful that your property hasn't been damaged or you haven't not been paid as you physically couldn't get to work.

Amen Pigsmummy. Extreme weather conditions in other regions of the UK receive wide news coverage, but let's not let the facts get in the way of a good bashing.

And in real life I have found that people who use the term 'sarf' are usually nobs with chips on their shoulders.

OP YABU

YABU. On Sky news yesterday I saw reporters in Lyme Regis and Ipswich. Have you any idea how far apart those two towns actually are? Added to which neither are in the south east.

My power has been off for well over thirty hours now. I understand that sixty thousand other people are in the same position, that's considered news worthy wherever it occurs in the country.

If all trains running into and out of Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool (and i'm not sure those three cities combined equal London on it's own with regard to the number of rail journeys affected) were cancelled in anticipation of an exceptional weather event it would reported by the news channels with equal fervour.

24 hour news channels have a lot of time to fill which is why they get so excited about things like this storm.

I don't believe that 99 mph winds and associated storms are commonplace further north.

Northerners seem to be obsessed with moaning about the south.

Nope. Not obsessed with moaning about the South. Lived there for many years.

This is the difference - trains were cancelled in London in anticipation of the weather. I've never known that happen anywhere else.

YouTheCat, then you and everyone who lives north of Watford is considerably braver/harder/better than those who live south.

That what you wanted to hear?

Shiny that's as daft as saying all southerners are soft and can't cope with a bit of bad weather (not my opinion, am paraphrasing).

Youthecat, train operators gave out warnings that trains would not be running due to the anticipated adverse weather during the time it was meant to hit. Then it did hit as expected the train companies were being efficient warning us ahead of time they would not be running trains so that people would not be milling around on train platforms in gale-force winds waiting for severely delayed trains.

Tube stations were filled to the brim yesterday, buses were packed out. A normal 45 minute journey into work was taking 2 hours for the lucky ones.

I don't understand your point, do you think it would have been better for trains to have carried on running and end up putting lives at risk? The number of tubes which were delayed and periodically part suspended due to debris on the track during the rush hour was insane. No way would overground trains have been able to run at their normal speed or at all. For once, I feel damned grateful to the train operators, at least yesterday we knew they were not going to be running the trains so we could organise alternate transport or work from home

I'd post photos if i could. Trees down everywhere, roads closed, rail lines closed, no power.

The economic impact of people not being able to commute to work will be significant. The cost of repairing transport infrastructure will be significant.

Kind regards

A. Southern-Softy

We still don't have power over 24 hours later.

Ferry crossings were also cancelled in anticipation, I actually cannot believe there are people who honestly believe that only transport in and out of London makes advanced cancellation in anticipation of bad weather.

London must have the crappiest transport system.

I'm not saying anyone is harder/better or whatever.

I am in Newcastle but not 'well 'ard'. I wear a coat.