… to have little sympathy for people stuck in the snow!

Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 08:22

depends of the circumstances

unclebuck · 10/03/2023 08:23

I never understand threads like this. We have no idea why they are stuck and it does not effect you, why make a post stating you have no sympathy? Does it make you feel very clever and well organised?
I have sympathy because I am sure some of them had absolutely no choice, others missed the forecast and others made a poor decision. We all do all these things at some point or other.

Meandfour · 10/03/2023 08:25

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 10/03/2023 08:20

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-64905906

There were plenty of warnings about this, it was moving slowly up the country. Hampshire had heavy snow on Wednesday.

Yet people are still surprised that heavy snow will affect the roads! It takes time to get them clear and given the infrequency of snow, the UK does not have the full infrastructure to do this quickly.

Moving up? We’ve had snow since Wednesday in Yorkshire. My friend went into labour last night and needed to get to hospital. Should she have stayed home with no assistance?

HyggeTygge · 10/03/2023 08:25

I didn't read that news story as being about "people being surprised".

What did you think it was about, OP? That people still attempted to travel despite snow?

R0ckets · 10/03/2023 08:26

unclebuck · 10/03/2023 08:23

I never understand threads like this. We have no idea why they are stuck and it does not effect you, why make a post stating you have no sympathy? Does it make you feel very clever and well organised?
I have sympathy because I am sure some of them had absolutely no choice, others missed the forecast and others made a poor decision. We all do all these things at some point or other.

Agreed.

The chances are many of them had to go to work despite the snow or they wouldn't get paid. Bills are extortionate, people can't just take days off because it snows.

I'm sure if they had all stayed home the OP would be making an equally unkind thread bemoaning how the whole country comes to a standstill when there's a bit of snow.

Have a word with yourself and stop being such a twat.

Foundryside · 10/03/2023 08:28

Charming, OP.

Most people who are out on the roads when heavy snow is forecast are out because they have to be, not because they fancied a fun drive.

Timeforachangeisitnot · 10/03/2023 08:28

I am in NE Scotland. It snows a lot.
Despite the warnings the council in my area were not out clearing the roads early in the day and many people could not get to work.

Not through lack or trying, nor through lack of appropriate private vehicles, but because public transport ground to a halt so pretty much everyone had to get in their cars , at the same time.

Add to that, the roads were unsafe for school transport, so many rural schools were close. Again. So parents had to stay home with children.

It started , as predicted on Monday morning around 1 am. My road is still sheet ice., not seen a gritted or a plough , day 5

Despite the frequency, the infrastructure is still inadequate.

Pasithean · 10/03/2023 08:30

I do think a lot of people still don’t realise how dangerous it is. We have had snow warnings since before the weekend Took til today to come and we are now snowed in. DH out since05.30 checking sheep etc on the farm. No snow lie ins here.

taxguru · 10/03/2023 08:31

Forecasts are often wrong. The country would grind to a halt if everyone stayed home whenever there was a bad weather warning. It's become like the boy who cried wolf! We had zero snow yesterday, not even a slight flutter, despite being in the middle of the "worst affected" highest warning area in Wednesday's forecast for yesterday!

I think forecasts are useful as a kind of "heads up" to warn people what MAY happen, but it's complete madness to assume they're going to be right and plan your day assuming the worst, rather than making an informed decision and staying aware of changing circumstances.

lovedive · 10/03/2023 08:32

My dh works as a delivery driver. His boss said he still has to go in. Or get the sack. Thanks for the sympathy

Toottooot · 10/03/2023 08:33

Awa bile yer heid min.

Spiderysummer · 10/03/2023 08:34

You need to understand the pressure people area under to get to work. My daughter is in an Amber warning area and knows the consequences of driving an hour away for work but was still told she had to come in. She didn't make it despite attempting to drive in and will no doubt be in trouble.

Original poster

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 10/03/2023 08:36

There will be some that had to travel, but there would be a lot that just didn’t think about the forecast.

We have become increasingly detached from nature and forget how powerful it can be. People disregard the warnings and then are surprised when it has an adverse effect. The same as when, every time there are floods, some clowns will drive through road puddles.

Driving across the Pennines on the M62 during an orange weather warning, unless you absolutely had to, last night was daft.

OP posts:

Iwantmyoldnameback · 10/03/2023 08:38

As the weather forecast is very rarely correct I don't blame anyone for mostly ignoring it.

Sugarplumfairy65 · 10/03/2023 08:39

Does that include my neighbor who did a 14 hour shift at the local hospital yesterday and couldn't get home last night? Her husband brought the 2 children round to ours this morning at 6am so he could go and do his turn with mountain rescue who are doing what they can to get hospital staff to work and back.
The farmers have been out all night with the snow ploughs trying to clear the main roads.
About 10 years ago, the company that I worked for wouldn't let me close and go home early when we had snow. I let all the staff who lived locally go and I stayed under threat of disciplinary action. By the time they gave permission it was too late for me to travel the 20 miles home, the roads were closed. I ended up sleeping in the stock room.
Some employers couldn't give a shit!

unclebuck · 10/03/2023 08:41

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 10/03/2023 08:36

There will be some that had to travel, but there would be a lot that just didn’t think about the forecast.

We have become increasingly detached from nature and forget how powerful it can be. People disregard the warnings and then are surprised when it has an adverse effect. The same as when, every time there are floods, some clowns will drive through road puddles.

Driving across the Pennines on the M62 during an orange weather warning, unless you absolutely had to, last night was daft.

Exactly. And I have sympathy for those people, even if they have done something "daft". What benefits do you gain from looking down your nose at them.

Original poster

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 10/03/2023 08:45

Sugarplumfairy65 · 10/03/2023 08:39

Does that include my neighbor who did a 14 hour shift at the local hospital yesterday and couldn't get home last night? Her husband brought the 2 children round to ours this morning at 6am so he could go and do his turn with mountain rescue who are doing what they can to get hospital staff to work and back.
The farmers have been out all night with the snow ploughs trying to clear the main roads.
About 10 years ago, the company that I worked for wouldn't let me close and go home early when we had snow. I let all the staff who lived locally go and I stayed under threat of disciplinary action. By the time they gave permission it was too late for me to travel the 20 miles home, the roads were closed. I ended up sleeping in the stock room.
Some employers couldn't give a shit!

That is kind of my point. I’ve had to sleep at work because of the snow. I didn’t drive onto a motorway as I knew it would be too hazardous and there was a big risk of getting stuck. Which is a) very very unpleasant for everyone and b) makes the job of clearing the motorway so much harder and creates a lot of extra work for the emergency services.

If there is an amber warning, and you can stay safe inside, then you should not be travelling. Unless it is an emergency. Especially across mountains.

OP posts:

Riverlee · 10/03/2023 08:46

Forecasts aren’t always accurate on when the snow is falling and how much. I’m in Kent and the snow in December was forecast to fall overnight. It actually came in early evening, and was heavier than expected. It did catch a lot of people out because of this.

Martinisarebetterdirty · 10/03/2023 08:48

Thing is you don’t know what their reasons are. People driving across the Pennines last night weren’t doing it for fun, the ones who live there will know the dangers well as they get a fair bit of snow.

My elderly parent has to go to hospital last night in an ambulance, presumably you agree that’s essential? But then what about my brother who drove to theirs to wait with them as they were worried and confused? And what about his journey home to his family after when he could have slept at my parents’ empty house?
I’m just grateful it’s not me stuck there and that all mine are now home and safe.

donttellmehesalive · 10/03/2023 08:49

Yes you are much cleverer and more wise than them op, well done.

donttellmehesalive · 10/03/2023 08:50

Just quietly enjoy your superiority without sharing it in public because it makes you sound like an unkind, unimaginative knob.

Saisong · 10/03/2023 08:51

It's dammed if you do dammed if you don't with the UK weather!

I'm intruiged by your username though op. Do you get much call for spectral types?

snowfal · 10/03/2023 08:53

donttellmehesalive · 10/03/2023 08:50

Just quietly enjoy your superiority without sharing it in public because it makes you sound like an unkind, unimaginative knob.

The best response!

amylou8 · 10/03/2023 08:54

I drove 2 hours back from Gatwick at 2am on Wednesday though heavy snow. I didn't see I had much option. I always have water, food, blankets and at least double the fuel I need for the journey, so would hopefully have survived!

Hankunamatata · 10/03/2023 08:55

Not everyone has jobs they can't just not turn up to like carers, hospital workers, police, fire etc