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AIBU?

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Original poster

People panicking because of snow

225 replies

Cuffi · 03/01/2025 22:18

When snow is forecasted in the weather, people go mad, panic buy.

If you are planning to stay at home regardless of the weather, you are not going to eat more as it’s snowing! Maybe 2-4 extra cups of tea or coffee? It doesn’t warrant the need to clear the shelves of tinned soups and UHT milk!

Besides where I live the snow would be melted by mid Sunday and temps are going up to 9c.

These people need to look at themselves as they look soft

OP posts:
Raindropskeepfallinonmyhead · 03/01/2025 23:22

OMG this totally explains why the shelves were empty today!! I couldn't understand it!

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 03/01/2025 23:31

I think it’s a mindset though. I’ve been in Canada for 14 years. We have snow on the ground from October to March - schools don’t close for the cold/show. It was -39 today with the wind chill. If you want groceries, you go buy groceries. Everything keeps moving.

Rosesgrowonyou · 03/01/2025 23:31

Raindropskeepfallinonmyhead · 03/01/2025 23:22

OMG this totally explains why the shelves were empty today!! I couldn't understand it!

I couldn't understand why Tesco was so busy. I know I was there too but it was just a normal shopping time for me. I must be oblivious to weather stuff 🤣

Sodullincomparison · 03/01/2025 23:34

I had an online shop today and had 18 substitutions ( swede and potato soup anyone as there were no leeks) and nine unavailable- no cold or flu medicine.

I hadn’t made the connection with the snow. Our weather says severe warning but no a sign of snow or rain on the forecast.

HereForTheAnimals · 03/01/2025 23:36

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 03/01/2025 23:31

I think it’s a mindset though. I’ve been in Canada for 14 years. We have snow on the ground from October to March - schools don’t close for the cold/show. It was -39 today with the wind chill. If you want groceries, you go buy groceries. Everything keeps moving.

We don't have the ability to deal with this in the UK though. Well, especially in England. We don't get it as extreme as you do, and I'd hate to even try and endure those temps. With local authority cutbacks, and less gritters, a few centimetres makes us useless unless you have a 4x4. I'm in the north which is quite hilly too.

Redwinedaze · 03/01/2025 23:37

Ponderingwindow · 03/01/2025 22:38

Forecast for where I live is 13-19 inches with temperatures of -18 to -15 the subsequent days.

We were out of groceries and on a normal day at least one of us has a meal outside of the house. You better believe we stocked up.

I also have every cell phone, power-bank, and kindle in the house charging.

Will probably all amount to nothing, but what is the harm in getting some groceries. We will eat them.

Blimey where do you live? Sounds like my kind of place.

FergussSingsTheBlues · 03/01/2025 23:37

I couldn’t even get parked at Tesco today…. We’re in the amber zone by a whisker and on the coast which means we really won’t get much snow …. Lotta drama

TennisLady · 03/01/2025 23:38

Every year the same comments from people who live or lived in Canada/Scandinavia/Scotland etc saying how in England we panic about a bit of snow and every year people have to point out that it’s because it’s rare and in many parts of the country people therefore don’t buy snow tyres or the council running snow ploughs through towns etc.

Topsyturvy78 · 03/01/2025 23:39

Depends where you live. We've not had any yet this year. We're close to the lakes where had it deep in the last year. There was no weather warning it wasn't expected.People abandoned car's and slept in a village hall.

A friend of mine travels to the lakes for work. Twice this year the bus hasn't been able to complete the journey. She was sat hours on a freezing bus. But with so many homes in the lakes holiday homes very few staff live locally. Some buisness even provide transport. It's better pay in the lakes so

Where I live the snow doesn't stay for long. Yes it melts but then the temperature drops again. Which means the was thawed snow freezes turns to ice. As well as all the flooding we've had. Would be a nightmare if that freezes.

Gardengirl108 · 03/01/2025 23:39

I’m going to the supermarket in the morning to stock up on oat milk as we’ve run out and it’s significantly discounted at the moment. Now slightly worried I’m going to get judged in the queue for ‘stockpiling’, when actually I always just wait for the offer. I won’t buy any bread though 😉

VegTrug · 03/01/2025 23:40

I think you're forgetting that it's not always that they've all been bought by panic buying, but that some deliveries will be delayed by the ice. Where I live in North Yorkshire, the roads were (many still are) all coated in a layer of ice and driving is nigh on impossible, even on gritted roads. I live not a million miles from a very well known tea factory and their lorries were struggling to get up the hill near the factory today........

SkiingonKaraSea · 03/01/2025 23:42

Cuffi · 03/01/2025 23:00

For up to 10 days after Christmas and New Year, you see gaps on shelves as there's a break in the supply chain - ie production plant or factory closed early or have fewer staff - less supply created.

If it takes 3 days from production plant to supermarket, you notice the break 3 days later.

This

ManchesterLu · 03/01/2025 23:42

HotelDuVine · 03/01/2025 22:30

You were a panic-buyer.

Show quote history

I don't think that's "panic buying". I think you should always have an extra loaf in the freezer, and always have an unopened bottle of milk or a carton of long life milk.

The problem is that when there are weather warnings, people remember they should have these things, and don't. So they just go and get their sensible supplies at the same time. It's not panic buying as they're not buying more than they reasonably SHOULD have.

VegTrug · 03/01/2025 23:42

@Runningoutofthyme You bought an extra pack of crème eggs. Brought means something different

pavillion1 · 03/01/2025 23:43

oh behave ... We love a good panic excuse

CountingDownToSummer · 03/01/2025 23:43

YABU.
I'm in Scotland and it absolutely makes sense to stock up with essentials when it's forecast snow. Just because your snow is due to melt doesn't mean you should judge others that usually get snowed in when it snows

katseyes7 · 03/01/2025 23:44

I think it depends on where you live and where you need to go.
I've always managed fine, until a few years ago.
At the time I lived in a very small hamlet in Yorkshire, quite high up, and only accessible by (mainly) country roads which were winding and hilly.
I was at a friends on Boxing Night, it started snowing so l left for home at 9pm.
The journey, which usually took twenty minutes, took over two hours.
The snow had come down thick and fast and there was a long queue of cars on the roads near the Yorkshire Sculpture park, bumper to bumper, sliding and getting stuck in the snow.
I don't know if it had been expected, but the roads hadn't been gritted at all. Fortunately thanks to a young man who helped me (he lived in the next village, l gave him a lift and he directed me via a safe route as my usual road was inaccessible, being steep and the snow was very thick). I was also fairly new to the area and only knew my usual route home, none of the alternative roads.
Otherwise, l managed 28 years working shifts for the police, driving at all hours and in all conditions.
And as it's expected, the roads should be gritted in good time, and it's only for a couple of days so far as l can see from the forecast. I don't think anyone's going to starve for lack of provisions.

VegTrug · 03/01/2025 23:45

Cuffi · 03/01/2025 22:56

I am so glad of my store cupboard. About 3 times a year, I go to the retail park the other side of the city where I live (its a bloody nightmare to get to) where they have Home Bargains, B&M, Iceland Warehouse, and buy store cupboard stuff. This is food, toiletries and cleaning stuff.

Never once had to buy pasta and loo roll for 15 months from Feb 2020.

What a drip feed! So you're now revealing yourself to be a stockpiler! Hahaha that's hilarious

HereForTheAnimals · 03/01/2025 23:49

Gardengirl108 · 03/01/2025 23:39

I’m going to the supermarket in the morning to stock up on oat milk as we’ve run out and it’s significantly discounted at the moment. Now slightly worried I’m going to get judged in the queue for ‘stockpiling’, when actually I always just wait for the offer. I won’t buy any bread though 😉

Oat milk? Nobody is going to care about that, unless it is Oatly Barista for 25p a carton 🤣

VegTrug · 03/01/2025 23:49

@MooseBeTimeForSnow Yes but your infrastructure is built for snow. I've spent a lot of time in Canada myself and where I went at least, the entire place was built for snow. We would be here if it was on our ground October to March!

JazzieC · 03/01/2025 23:49

I spoke to my in-laws today who are in their 80s and quite frail - they had been to the shops to stock up with the snow in mind. There must be quite a lot of people out there in similar situations.

katseyes7 · 03/01/2025 23:50

*Gardengirl108 *
Where is it discounted just now please? I usually buy it when it's on offer and l'm due to stock up, l only have one left.

StrikeForever · 03/01/2025 23:51

MauveVelcro · 03/01/2025 22:28

Bloody hell. I nipped down the coop about 8pm for a loaf of bread (as dh and I were having soup)...and there was none, literally not one bread item in the whole place. I thought it was unusual, just thought they must have delivery issues.

Bet it was the incoming snow 😂 I didn't need milk so no idea what that was like, probably all gone too 😂😂

About 5.30pm today, I tried to get a delivery slot with Sainsbury’s for tomorrow. This wouldn’t usually be an issue at all. Lots of slots would be available. Today though, there were none. Very much like Christmas Eve 😮 I didn’t understand at all. Now I have seen this thread, I realise it will be the forecast for snow. We’re in the North East, just north of Durham. Not remotely rural. The roads will be kept clear and the snow isn’t even due here until early Sunday morning (middle of the night type of early). We’re ‘elderly’ apparently (65 and 71). When/if the snow comes. We’ll be taking the dogs out! What is it with all the panic?

Topsyturvy78 · 03/01/2025 23:51

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 03/01/2025 23:31

I think it’s a mindset though. I’ve been in Canada for 14 years. We have snow on the ground from October to March - schools don’t close for the cold/show. It was -39 today with the wind chill. If you want groceries, you go buy groceries. Everything keeps moving.

Canada is equipped the UK isn't. The gritters only grit the main roads they don't do the side streets or smaller country lanes. Not everyone drives as well I don't. If it's deep snow the buses don't run. We walk a lot here me and DC love getting out for a walk.

But it would mean me walking with two children with disabilities. Both have epilepsy so there's the risk of them having a seizure not being able to get up and having to wait for an ambulance if they don't come out of it.

We just aren't equipped for the colder weather. Just like they found out in Texas the last few years. Their homes aren't built for colder weather. Their homes are built to deplete heat. Great when it's hot not great when they have icicles hanging from ceiling fans and the kids fish tank freezes.

Star81 · 03/01/2025 23:52

I think now the news make such a big deal of every storm, giving them names all the time - wind rain or snow that it sends people into a panic. They really do make it into a frenzy and I can understand why anxious people panic buy. Where we live often the named storms are more mild that the everyday weather we usually get !!