Blizzard red alert
Monday 11th March 2013, 11:28AM GMT.
A tree fell on a car in the Grange this afternoon. Fortunately nobody was hurt. (Picture by Luke Richardson).
Blizzard conditions have brought chaos to the island today.
For many pictures and reports of the chaos caused by today’s weather, see tomorrow’s Guernsey Press.
The States Works Department has had vehicles out clearing snow from main roads, and it says an inspection will be carried out early tomorrow morning to assess whether further de-icing is necessary.
Lorry-mounted gritters are expected to be deployed again during the night in an attempt to keep major routes clear tomorrow morning.
3:40pm: The Health and Social Services Department says that all elective surgery and day patient appointments will be cancelled tomorrow due to the weather.
However, Bulstrode Oncology Unit Outpatient clinics will take place, subject to further notice.
There will also be staff in radiology and the breast clinic will take place.
There will be limited community services for palliative care, but for urgent callers a telephone service will be available.
2pm: Police have said workers who have left their cars in Town and walked home today will not be hit with parking tickets as long as they
are parked sensibly.
1.30: Schools update – Education is advising parents and schools to plan on the basis of schools being closed tomorrow.
12:45: Education update – All schools are to close, it has been announced. A decision on tomorrow will be made in the morning.
12:35: Today’s classes in the Speech and Drama Eisteddfod have been cancelled
11:47: Bus updates – CT Plus has announced that all bus services have been cancelled.
The Salvation Army After School Club at Clifton Hall in St Peter Port has announced that it will not be open today. Parents who rely on their children being picked up from schools where the walking bus operate are asked to please make alternative arrangements for the collection of their children.
11:28: Education has just announced that with schools starting to close as conditions deteriorate, parents should make arrangements to collect their children from school as soon as possible.
11:14: The College of Further Education will close at midday.
10:58: The Grammar School will close at 11.20am
10:52: Hautes Capelles School will close at 12.
10:45: Guernsey Airport will not reopen today.
09:55: Le Val des Terres and Colborne Rd are both closed due to fallen trees. The Environment Department says traffic should divert through Les Caches, Frieteaux, Ruettes Brayes, Charroterie and Fountain Street.
09:00: The airport is closed until at least midday due to the snow. Travellers are advised to check with their airline.
0830: High winds have led Condor to cancel its ferry services from the UK.
Forest, Le Rondin and La Houguette schools are closed due to the weather, while Le Murier has also been closed as the special transport is not running.
Parents of children at other schools have been warned they might have to collect their children early if the weather deteriorates.
Guernsey Met Office has warned that the wind is likely to increase up to 60mph (gale force 10) during the day.
It has also issued a flood warning for the east coast for the 6.33pm high water today and the 6.51am high water tomorrow.
Bus operator CT Plus said that the 7 and 7a services will be going down L’Eree Hill, rather than to Pleinmont, due to slippery conditions and a fallen tree.
The company has also been diverting its buses away from Les Banques due to flooding at the Red Lion roundabout.
A fallen tree in La Villiaze also caused buses to be diverted, but this was cleared by 8am.
The Les Beaucamps High 1A, 2A, 4A, 5A, 6A and La Mare de Carteret High 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A school bus services were cancelled this morning. The Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service was called to Les Banques at 5.23am after a flat roof was blown off by the high winds.
Latest weather | Airport arrivals | Airport departures
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Saturday 18 May
- Former traffic warden tore up own ticket
- Win - £100 National Gardens gift voucher
- Chaos Festival preview
- Michael Meinke on running the Sahara
- Sport - 'Make it a green day'
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Useful Links
Just a small point.
In your weather report you describe the wind as `GALE FORCE 10′.
The correct term is in fact `STORM FORCE 10.
F.Y.I. some of the terms are
NEAR GALE FORCE 7
GALE FORCE 8
SEVERE GALE FORCE 9
STORM FORCE 10
KR
Report abuse
,,,no hurricanes then Mick? May the forces be with you.
Report abuse
Police say workers who have left their cars in Town and walked home today will not be hit with parking tickets if they are parked sensibly.
why on earth did people try and drive today?
why were schools open today?
whata joke
Report abuse
Think you’ll find that the roads were snowless this morning, particularly in the north and many people seemed to think that the Red weather warning was a bit of over the top worrying for nothing. However their faces are now red and hopefully lesson learnt for the next time this happens in a few decades from now.
Report abuse
One can only hope that having walked home that some of them might realise that actually it’s not that far and walking to town is something that could be done much more frequently!
Report abuse
Were you walking out in that weather Rosie? esp town area? i would imagine the last thing on peoples minds would have been them thinking its not that far and more likely seemed three times as far given the slow progress they would have been making in this weather.
Report abuse
bcb
I did and it was not fun.
I drove to work at 0700 and the roads were clear, not a problem. I had a groupcall message from the Grammar school at 1100 saying the school was closing at 1120, I left work to pick up my daughter and the drive to Grammar was ok.
I picked up my daughter and dropped her to my in-laws who live in St Martins as she has been living there for a while helping the mother in-law look after the father in-law who has not been well.
All was well until I hit the Ruette Braye, had to stop at the top and took a while to get moving again. I dropped the daughter off and attempted to get home, had to leave the car near the bottom of Victoria Road ( where I live ).
Walking home I helped a few cars up the hill, one was a BMW who revved hard whilst I was pushing, as it was a rear wheel drive you can imagine what state I ended up in.
Got home and changed then walked into town to help the wife home from work, the cold was ok but the wind was awful. I bought a hat my ears were so cold and my head was hurting.
Anybody who says it was enjoyable is wrong.
Report abuse
I walked from St Andrews into town this afternoon, it took me about 5 minutes longer than normal, and a hell of a lot less time than it would’ve taken to drive.
I wouldn’t expect pensioners / parents with very young children to do it though.
Report abuse
Well done Paul.
My point was that if one was walking or cycling into town on a half decent day then they may stop and think if it was enjoyable enough to do it more often with the added bonus of some exercise but i doubt those walking in this weather would have been thinking along those lines.
Neil i spent some time out in it and as you say it certainly was not much fun but it was mainly the wind that did it for me.
Report abuse
bcb. The point of my post was to say that people often over estimate distances in Guernsey so can be quite suprised how little time it takes to get somewhere by walking (or by bike). They are only likely to discover that tho‘ when they are in a position that they ‘have‘ to try it and yesterday presented that opportunity. if it was possible to walk to or from town in yesterdays extreme weather, then presumedly, it would be even more possible on days when there was no Force 10 wind blowing snow horizontally into your face which ever way you faced.
Since you ask, yes I did go out walking but I dressed appropriately so it was fun. We passed several people on the main St Andrew road walking home, also sensibly dressed and dare I say it, looking as tho’ they were enjoying the experience. My 2 kids walked into work in town (50 mins) and back and had no problems with it…. but again they dressed for the conditions. And I am about to walk into town. Obviously for a lot of people, weather like this presents real difficulties but that wasn’t the point I was making.
Report abuse
Im not sure what point your making really Rosie.
If you think that that the people who otherwise would drive to work will suddenly start walking because they were forced to leave their cars at home for a couple of days and bearing in mind man didn`t go to work and most likely even less today then we will have to agree to disagree. When the weather gets better i suspect it will be service as normal.
And walking in the upper parishes were nothing like walking along the coast it was horrible.
Report abuse
Rosie
You would have been a real success in liar Blair’s Cabinet.You’re NEVER off message :)))
Report abuse
NEWS FLASH –
SCHOOLS CLOSED TOMORROW
really …why can we not just walk!!!!!
oh dear Guernsey a little embaressing
when the reat of the UK new what we were to expect today is it not somewaht ironic
that the politicians and the police and the social security ( collectivly)
all failed to send out a message
STAY AT HOME ON MONDAY
Report abuse
For those saying “just walk” I challenge you to walk from Torteval church to town. Then we shall see if you are still saying “it’s just a bit of snow”.
It has been snowing all day in the upper parishes. It only started to stick in town around midday. There are other parts of the island than just town and the north.
I have over a foot of snow in my back garden, more where it’s drifted. Driveways are blocked and roads are both snow covered and blocked by trees.
Report abuse
I walked from Town to St Saviours yesterday, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it, but I was very well prepared.
That said, anyone who thinks schools should be opened, and parents should be walking their kids to school today is wrong. It would be madness to try getting children anywhere, certainly in the upper parishes anyway, as DWB says, I have a foot of snow in places in my garden, and there hasnt been a car past my house all day.
Report abuse
I don’t believe it! Am stuck in Nairobi airport longing to come home to Guernsey. It is 29*here and am relieved that I escaped dysentery etc over the last few weeks but it looks like I won’t be able to avoid frost bite!
Report abuse
Don’t understand, it’s only the channel islands airports that are closed, you should still be able to get back to Gatwick or Heathrow etc.
Report abuse
Not exactly stuck here just waiting 10hours for the flight to Heathrow and then the possibility of not getting home on Tues. chilled about it tho! ;)
Report abuse
Took two hours to get from St Martin’s to Leree in a four wheel drive. St Peter’s was in white out conditions with a severe blizzard. If you’re car is a two wheel drive don’t bother you will get stuck very quickly and block the roads.
Report abuse
Oh, sorry I didn’t realise that four wheel drive owners should have priority over all us minnows that only have two wheel drive cars!
Report abuse
In an ironic twist to your post I just got this on the Police Facebook page:
“Officers are dealing with numerous drivers who are having difficulty driving their 4×4 vehicles in the ice and snow.”
It seems it’s not just two wheel drive vehicles that are having problems….
Report abuse
What a daft comment Castiel. The car is only as good as the driver. Most 4×4′s never see off roading before they’re sold to the public.
Most Guernsey people haven’t had a whole lot of experience driving in snow, let alone snow of the proportions experienced over the last couple of days.
I was driven home in a two wheel drive car from Town to the Castel, the only time we encountered any kind of danger was when a 4×4 slipped and came onto our side of the road.
Report abuse
Oh Dear.
I have no objections to 4×4 on this island if the drivers can drive them.How many times do other vehicles have to mount the pavements for ones safety?Inexperience driver at the controls of a vehicle that should be upgraded to a higher driving catagory[driving test]competence at the wheel.
Report abuse
I completely agree Islander.
Report abuse
Who was it that decided to bring all the children into school?
Why did the States not follow Jersey and just close for the the day and assess each day as it comes?
So many accidents could have been avoided, and the worst thing is a Code Red Blizzard Warning was given hours before the event even occurred.
Emergency services probably would not have been so stretched as well, very foolish and idiotic in my view.
Report abuse
Looking and listening to the forecast why did people bother with cars, stay home or walk, the Island is not that big. I live and work at opposite sides of the Island but managed to walk. By the way I am over 50 and managed so what is the excuse for a younger person!!!!!!
Report abuse
Do you really expect anybody to believe you walked across the Island in those conditions?.
Report abuse
Oh chinney reckon, Caroline!
Report abuse
Love it! Haven’t heard that years. I trust you did the appropriate stroking of the fake beard? ;-)
Report abuse
chinny reckon … To express indignant disbelief at another’s fanciful proclamation.
It’s quite true.You DO learn something new every day
Report abuse
Can any cars abandoned in the road please be taken away and given to a new owner that knows how to drive? Or at least to someone that can park sensibly so as not to block everyone else.
Special mention to those inspired by the snowy conditions to create a slalom on the Rohais.
Report abuse
Poor education cannot win,they are damned if they do and damned if they dont, the roads in the Vale this morning were fine,if they had closed the northern schools, there would have been uproar, I went at 12pm to Blanchelande and managed fine, albeit with a careful driver but I have to say as soon as we got to Kings road things deteriorated the island was an island of two halves but well done education you called the right shots.Lets enjoy the excitement, we dont get much these days.
Report abuse
Well how about a bit of lateral thinking in future by the Education Department. Not just where the school is but also where the kids are coming from and will need to get back to. e.g Grammar pupils living in the higher areas.
The Met Office issued a Blizzard Red Alert. Are we so churlish these days not to listen to such a warning? That should have been enough to close the schools. Additionally, the snow was already well set-in in the upper parishes by 7am (falling steadily, 2cm laying (where I live), Forest and Houguette schools closed, airport closed, bus routes effected). That should have also set the alarm bells ringing because the worst was said to only be arriving from mid-morning onwards (which for us it did). Luckily, I had already made a family decision that we weren’t going out on the roads no matter what Education wanted. Sure enough, two and a half hours later parents were expected to go back out (now with even heavier snow falling and 6cm here) and collect their offspring. By then the only journeys that should have been being made in and out of (or rather up and down) the elevated half of the island were ones that were absolutely necessary – for everyone’s safety and so that the Emergency Services wouldn’t be even more stretched when they were called upon.
Report abuse
Jenny – you did what far too many of us don’t in these circumstances – thought for yourself and exercised some initiative. Perhaps if enough of us do that we’ll shake off the nanny state culture so many of us claim to hate and yet still rely on.
Report abuse
valelite
Well said, I remember the flak they got last time they shut the schools early morning.
Report abuse
I didn’t have a problem with them opening schools. My kids went in and managed to finish their morning session the same as usual. My other half managed to 3 hours work done (goes towards a holiday in a warm place!). I don’t think they ever expected to get a full day in so I wasn’t surprised they closed the schools early.
Report abuse
Did any gritting of the main arterial roads happen in the early hours of this morning when the forecast was so clear? It seems not.
The Rohais, Grange, Ruette Braye, Rohais de Haut, Rectory Hill, Val de Terres, Les Vauxbelets, Le Chene Hill – yes, the same old hills which cause chaos every time we get any significant snow. Do the authorities never learn?
Report abuse
Gritting before the snow, Genius? Oh no it just gets buried by snow and compressed into the ice and actually achieves nothing Doh!
Report abuse
From Cryotech website (manufacturer of CMA40):
How does CMA40 work?
CMA40, like road salt, works best above 20°F (-7°C), and is used at about the same rates as salt. Applied early in the storm, CMA40 prevents the formation of snow pack and the bonding of ice to the pavement surface. CMA40 interferes with the ability of snow and ice particles to adhere to each other or to the pavement, and therefore, the loose residue can be easily removed by broom or plow.
Report abuse
Is this CMA40 dangerous in our water supply? If so this is probably why it wasn’t used. Gritting before snow as Carlos said is daft.
Report abuse
Ive been out in my pink lycra shorts and ninja turtle t shirt, snow balling, sledging, making snowmen,stop the moaning and get out theree and enjoy it
Meanwhile Ed will be studying Hydrometeorological Hazards
Report abuse
Rest assured I’ve been out there enjoying the snow PB….and as an added bonus the snow made it dead easy to spot my dogs poo and scoop it.
Report abuse
I tried to get a round of golf in but got held up by Mary Lowe and Heidi Soulsby who had apparently lost their balls
Report abuse
IWV
you are awful;-))))
Report abuse
Breath of fresh air tells me I have not had many aggro comments targeted towards me this time, no disrespect, but does the one and only 2 day weather warning still warrant the amount of 4 x 4′s we have on our roads. Guernsey used to be slow and comfortable with standard small cars, ooopps now I will get abuse. Be honest, do we need staus symbols or pose machines, we are only a small island. My Child went to school walking, not 1 mile in my 4 x 4. I rest my case. Bring it on, I am ready.
Report abuse
Agreed – and most of them still can’t drive properly in the snow and ice!
Still, I suppose it is a good opportunity to show off your expensive toys.
Report abuse
It is a common misconception that 4x4s are somehow immune to ice and snow. They still have the same four contact points of the same type of rubber as 2WD cars. Which means that if you hit ice mid way through a corner the will still skid, and will still lock up during braking. The only advantage they have is that if they should subsequently become stuck, the four driven wheels have more of a chance of clawing the vehicle out and get it back on its way.
Report abuse
Just lost wonderful huge tree in our garden , what u huge shame all this wonderful trees how many years will it take to replace them , many many! In the time I can’t get out of my drive ! where are the tree people ! They will be busy!
Report abuse
stupid backward people
what a total joke – we are given red alert and the states ( idiots) do – all
i feel sorry for the elderly who have been unable to heat their homes ( as we pay ££££££££££ to lazy local unemployed jobseekers = sorry lazy local benefit scroungers)
ISLAND IS A JOKE
Report abuse
Thank you for your insightful intelligent and constructive comment,booc, and so well put!
Heaven knows how we coped over here before you turned up…..
why are you here if it’s so dreadful, by the way?
Are you a masochist?
Report abuse
Well done booc you`ve solved the problem for us re the elderly not being able to heat their homes. So we now know its because of the unemployed, your pure genius.
Report abuse
Jok
That’s a shame, a combination of heavily snow laden trees and high winds I am afraid.
Report abuse
I’m sure Jok’s been scratching his/her head all night long looking for answers. Thank the lord you were here to impart your limitless wisdom on this perplexing matter.
Report abuse
If you can put up with a bit of after the watershed language try not to miss the clip as recommended by Stu on the other weather thread
It should be short listed for some award or other
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCexKtnKcRM
Report abuse
IWV
Have you seen part 2?
The aftermath, both were written by Christian May and the language is probably worse.
These have gone viral on Facebook.
You can see it here.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r2hfJMLm4dU
Report abuse
Yes.Seen it.Very good.There is another one about the Plemont Holiday Camp at ..
http://m.youtube.com/watch?hl=en-GB&client=mv-google&gl=US&v=wU0Y0Uji3-w&rl=yes&feature=related
Christian May for CM
Report abuse
Excellent, many a true word spoken in jest!
Report abuse
I was out late Tues evening to check most roads. Quite surprising. The town and coast road to the bridge is completely free with no snow. However when you venture past St.Martins and beyond to the upper parishes, it looks like a different country, serious amounts of snow, fallen trees, still uncut. Smaller roads are still unpassable without a decent 4×4. The airport has a lot of snow. I will be impressed if they clear it by 9am Wed. I can totally understand why the schools are closed in the upper parishes, as many people are stuck in their homes with no buses, no 4×4′s to get out, big snow drifts and blocked roads. I would be surprised if even getting to work is possible. I am amazed at how niave people are, going out in normal 2wd cars with summer tyres on and then wondering why they get stuck, blocking the roads for everyone else and emergency services. Never again will people moan about the reason for having 4×4′s on the island. I have spent many nights clearing the roads with the boys in the back of the 4×4 with chainsaws, chopping down numerous fallen branches and trees, collecting stranded people, giving food to people in need, etc… My only comment is that the schools in St. Peter port and towards the bridge that have no snow/very little snow and have no reason at all to close, and many roads with closed signs on are totally clear of fallen trees and need to have the signs removed.
Report abuse
There is nothing wrong with having a few 4×4′s over here, there are some people who need them for work, but there are many many more people who
a) don’t need a 4×4
b) can’t drive their 4×4
Snow like this every 40+ years is no justificaiton for having lots of 4×4′s on the island.
I’m still against them, and am all for bring in a new law which only allowed them to people who prove they need them for work needs.
Report abuse
I drove around the upper parishes on Tuesday in a Jimny. Tidy small car and optional 4×4.
Coped very well and i was impressed.
Ideal for the island.
Report abuse
apparently the best 4×4 is the old square Fiat Panda one – the Swiss or Austrian post office used them because they were unstoppable.
Report abuse
Jake
How would your new law work? Would you also ban sports cars? Perhaps limit all cars to 35mph? Ban any visitors to the island who drive a 4×4?
Maybe we could take it further and ban anything that people don’t actually need to function in life. Maybe ban alcohol too?
Report abuse
We have a pony – we need to occasionally transport it and amazingly enough he needs feeding every day. 4×4 is needed for fields, mud, snow and transporting masses of gear and hay. We do not need a 4×4 for work, just for pleasure.
I ride a motorcycle to work and for pleasure, my two kids ride motorcycles.
I’m against non-horse owning non-motorcycle riding car drivers clogging up the roads with their unnecessary additional 3 seats. If they must insist on driving, every seat on every journey must be full or they should be forced to cycle, walk, take the totally practical and well-chosen ludicrously huge empty bus or ride a scooter.
Report abuse
No need for a 4×4 on this island. I got to work ok in a Vauxhall Corsa with snow chains, it made mincemeat of everything I encountered apart from downed trees. The chains only take just a few minutes to fit and are far cheaper than a 4×4 and a corsa burns far less fuel. Some people in this Island don’t seam to care about the planet so long as thier ego and street cred is intact, perhaps if more people drove smaller cars we would have less of these extreme weather events and more Polar Bears
Just for the record I work at the airport and drove along some of the worst effected roads.
Report abuse
I wonder if we can expect General Rice to add some new items to his toy box follwoing this once in a generation (or two) weather event.
I can imagine him he has put the military catalogues in front of Le Tocq with all the goodies ticked in red.
Bullet proof snow ploughs, white humvees, trained huskies (with sledges) – you might laugh but watch this space…..
Oh – and a curfew next time. With shoot on sight to deter “looters”.
Report abuse
Looking at the picture, how on earth could anyone cross that road?
Report abuse
It would appear that the pedestrian lights are in the wrong place. Did they not know there was a tree sleeping there when they put them in?
Report abuse