Police blast Instagram tourists for their 'dangerous parking' on snow-covered Welsh mountain as Britain counts cost from deadly Storm Goretti - with warnings more chaos is on the way | Retrui News | Retrui
Police blast Instagram tourists for their 'dangerous parking' on snow-covered Welsh mountain as Britain counts cost from deadly Storm Goretti - with warnings more chaos is on the way
SOURCE:Daily Mail
Hordes of visitors flocked to Snowdonia, North Wales, in a bid to snap the picturesque winter wonderland landscape to share with others online.
Police have hit out at Instagram-loving tourists for their 'ridiculous parking' on a Welsh mountain blanketed with snow.
Hordes of visitors flocked to Snowdonia, North Wales, in a bid to snap the picturesque winter wonderland landscape to share with others online.
But many ignored the parking warning issued by the local police force, urging them to avoid leaving their cars on the side of the icy mountain road.
North Wales Police warned that by doing so, motorists were putting others at risk of 'serious' personal injury and 'pushing them into the paths of oncoming vehicles'.
The force warned drivers who put others on the road at risk by leaving their cars could see them be towed away if they can be removed safely.
Brazen hikers have been pictured attempting to tackle Snowdon - despite the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team issuing an avalanche warning.
Emergency services were called to the Mawgan area of Helston, Cornwall, at around 7.35pm on Thursday after a tree fell. Officers worked through Friday to safely remove it from the mobile home.
Meanwhile, Cornwall has been battered with gusts of up to 100mph as parts of Britain brace for further snow and flooding after the storm.
Police have hit out at Instagram-loving tourists for their 'ridiculous' parking on Snowdon while it has been covered with snow
North Wales Police said motorists were increasing the risk of injury to others as well as pushing cars into oncoming traffic
Inspector Jason Diamond, of North Wales Police, described the behaviour of drivers in Snowdonia over the last weekend as 'irresponsible' and 'disappointing'.
Elaborating further, he said visitors adopted a 'if they do it, I'll do it' attitude to parking on the icy roadside, increasing the risk of injury for themselves as well as others.
'We understand that the area is outstandingly beautiful - even more so with a blanket of snow, but common sense must still prevail,' he said.
The Inspector said leaving cars along the 'snow-lined carriageways' only pushed others into the path of oncoming cars and ups the risk of 'serious' injuries.
'We seldom get snow flurries like we have seen in recent days, so our general motoring public are not used to driving on snow and ice,' he said.
'So irresponsible behaviour for the benefit of a walk or some Instagram photos increases the demand on our emergency and volunteer services who could be focusing on dealing with real emergencies.'
And while he explained towing cars was always an option, the move had to be risk-assessed in the wintry conditions.
'Building car parks in a national park is far more complicated than it sounds,' he added further.
He urged those planning on visiting the area, now officially known as Eryri, to familiarise themselves with the weather and to follow Met Office updates.
'If you do intend on visiting the area, please make sure you park responsibly and sensibly,' he said.
A horde of people walk up Pen y Fan in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park on January 10
A full car park at the base of Pen y Fan mountain during Storm Goretti
A trail of people make their way up Snowdon despite the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team issuing an avalanche warning
A picture taken from the route up to Snowdonia showing a hiker's backpack
'Local authorities will be sending their enforcement officers out and will be issuing notices to any vehicles illegally parked.'
Gwynedd Councillor Craig ab Iago said: 'The recent snow and ice have created some beautiful scenes and a wonderful atmosphere here in Gwynedd, and we want everyone to be able to enjoy it safely.
'If you are coming to areas such as Pen y Pass to walk or to enjoy the views, please plan your visit carefully and respect others and our communities.
'We are asking people to park responsibly and not block the road for others. Our officers will be working with partners from other authorities with the aim of keeping the road clear.
'Because of the mountainous and rural nature of the area, visitors should also remember that the weather can affect the roads, which has a knock-on effect on public transport. Please check the weather forecast and road information before setting off.'
Meanwhile, Britain braces for further snow and widespread flooding as tens of thousands of people are still without power after Storm Goretti.
After severe conditions caused school closures and travel disruption this week, yellow warnings for snow and ice continue until Sunday, as 28,000 properties remain without power in the South West.
Forecasters said the combination of melting snow and rain could bring floods in the coming days, with the Environment Agency issuing 129 warnings in England on Saturday.
Clear blue skies above snow covered fields in Newtown Linford, Leicestershire
After heavy rain, the Huntingdon Racecourse in Cambridgeshire has been flooded
A pony walks though a frosty landscape as the sun rises in the New Forest, Hampshire
Police inspect a car that skidded off the road in Peterborough on Saturday morning
Motorists cross floodwaters from the River Beult near Ashford in Kent
Heavy rain from Storm Goretti has caused the River Beult in Kent to burst its banks
A property in Falmouth extensively damaged by a fallen tree on January 10
A massive clean-up operation underway in Cornwall following 100mph gusts of wind
A digger removes a fallen tree from the garden of a property in Falmouth
A couple walk past a fallen tree at Church Hill near St Gluvias in Penryn, Cornwall
People walk through a snowy field in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire on January 10
Rail disruption is also set to be affected throughout the weekend across England, Wales and Scotland, as the country continues to feel the effects of the storm's wild weather.
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place until 3pm on Saturday, with further snowfall possible across parts of northern England and much of Scotland, while a widespread risk of ice is expected to cause disruption.
Forecasts predict further 2-5cm of snow is likely in the warning area, with 10-20cm possible above 200 metres.
A separate yellow warning for ice covers large parts of England and Wales until midday on Saturday as partially thawed snow refreezes, accompanied by wintry showers and freezing fog.
In Northern Ireland, a yellow warning for snow and ice will run until 11am on Saturday, with the Met Office warning of icy patches and some hill snow.
Meanwhile the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its amber cold weather health alerts for all of England until Monday, warning of a 'rise in deaths'.
Dan Stroud, Met Office meteorologist, said the weather over the weekend will remain 'unsettled and cold'.
He said: 'Wintry showers will continue to affect some coastal areas on Saturday, although these will increasingly become confined to northern and eastern parts as the day progresses.
A dog plays in the snow in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire on Saturday morning
Vehicles parled in Dowlais near Merthyr Tydfil, Wales as Storm Goretti continues to batter the UK
A motorist drives down a flooded country lane in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, on Friday after heavy rain
Flooding on the high street in the Cambridgeshire village of Alconbury Weston on Friday afternoon
A man observes sea defences which have been destroyed on Mermaid Beach in Folkestone
Strong gusts of wind displaced beach huts in Hastings on January 9
Heavy snow and freezing conditions continue to people in Insch, Aberdeenshire, on Friday
Deserted platforms and a departure board at Old Hill station in Sandwell, West Midlands, on Friday
A man clears snow from his front garden at Dove Holes in Derbyshire on Friday morning
'Elsewhere, after a cold and frosty start, it should be a mostly dry day with variable amounts of cloud. It will be a widely cold day, with frost lingering across parts of the country.
'Sunday will start dry in the East, but cloud and rain already present in the West will move steadily eastwards.
'The rain will fall as snow inland across the North Midlands and areas further North. However, temperatures will rise through the day, meaning the snow will become increasingly confined to higher ground by the afternoon.
'It will be windy for all, with coastal gales and the potential for severe gales in the North-West later in the day.
'The unsettled but increasingly milder theme continues into next week, with persistent rain at times in northern and western areas, along with strong to gale force winds. However, it will feel much milder than recently, with temperatures returning to near-normal values.'
Around 15cm of snow was recorded at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys and 7cm at Preston Montford in Shropshire and Nottingham.
In Scotland, there was 27cm at Altnaharra in Sutherland, 26cm at Loch Glascarnoch and 22cm at Durris in Kincardineshire.
The highest rainfall total was recorded in Cornwall, with 61.8mm at Colliford Dam, followed by 57mm at Ddolwen Bridge, Dyfed, and 54mm at White Barrow in Devon.
Storm Goretti brings flooding to Essex, trapping cars including this one in 4ft of water on Friday
Cars go through surface water on Row Lane near Emmer Green in Berkshire on Friday morning
A man battles with his umbrella while crossing London Bridge on January 9
A woman pulls a sledge on the snow in Walsall on Friday morning after Storm Goretti hit the UK
Birmingham wakes up to a thick covering of snow on Friday morning as Storm Goretti sweeps in
A person sledges in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, as Storm Goretti hits the UK
Snowfall at Mow Cop Castle on the border of Cheshire and Staffordshire on Friday morning
The sky turns pink during snowfall in the Small Heath area of Birmingham early this morning
Snow settles around the A465 in the Dowlais area of Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales on Friday
How do we name storms and why has Storm Goretti got a French name?
- Why do we name storms?
In 2015, the Met Office launched a scheme inviting the public to suggest names for storms, to raise awareness of the dangers of severe weather.
The forecaster said using a single, recognisable name for a storm helps the public better understand the risks and take action to keep themselves safe.
- When is a storm named?
The decision is linked to weather warnings. If a storm is disruptive or dangerous enough for an amber or red warning to be issued, the Met Office gives it a name.
Named storms are often expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain that could lead to flooding, or significant snowfall.
- How is a name chosen?
The Met Office uses suggestions from the public to agree a list of names for the year ahead, working together with Irish forecaster Met Eireann, and Dutch forecaster KNMI as the storm naming group for western Europe.
A name is avoided if it is too difficult to pronounce, has different meanings in different countries, or if it is associated with a private company, public figure, or a storm that has previously caused loss of life.
The US National Hurricane Centre does not use storm names beginning with the letters Q, U, X, Y or Z, so, for consistency in the North Atlantic, neither does the Met Office.
The alphabetical list, which runs from early September until late August the following year, alternates between male and female names. So far this season, the UK has been hit by storms Amy, Benjamin, Claudia, Bram, and now Goretti.
- Why are we using the French name for Storm Goretti?
With the worst of Storm Goretti's high winds expected over northern France, the storm was named by French forecaster Meteo France.
To avoid confusion and ensure consistent messaging across borders, the UK forecaster is using the same name for the storm.
It is the third storm this season that has been named by another European forecaster, with the Met Office adopting Meteo France's name for Storm Benjamin in October.
In November, Storm Claudia, which brought heavy and persistent rain to the UK, was named by the Spanish Meteorologial Service after it severely impacted the Canary Islands.
- How do other European countries name storms?
Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium and Luxembourg work together to name storms in south-western Europe, while Norway, Sweden and Denmark agree names for storms in the north of the continent.
In Northern Ireland, a yellow warning for snow and ice will run until 11am on Saturday, with the Met Office warning of icy patches and some hill snow.
A yellow warning for snow and ice will be in force for much of Scotland, the East and West Midlands, North-East and North-West England and Yorkshire from 2am until 3pm on Sunday.
A further 2-5cm of snow is likely in the warning area, with 10-20cm possible above 200 metres.
The wild weather brought 99mph winds overnight while a rare red warning was issued by the Met Office for 'dangerous' winds in South-West England on Thursday.
Airports across the country, including Heathrow, suffered cancelled and delayed flights on Friday, while dozens of schools shut their doors.
About 28,000 properties were without power in the South-West on Saturday morning, according to the National Grid's website.
A further 1,700 homes in the West Midlands, 150 in the East Midlands, were also off the grid following the inclement conditions which hit Britain this week, while all power has been restored in Wales.
The storm brought winds of almost 100mph after forecasters issued a rare red warning for 'dangerous, stormy' winds in the South-West.
Downing Street said support was being offered to homes left without power.
Birmingham and East Midlands airports both had to suspend operations yesterday due to the heavy snow, while all trains in Cornwall and many others in the North were axed.
The sky turned pink in areas of Birmingham on Friday morning following the 'weather bomb', after the central pressure in the area of low pressure fell rapidly yesterday.
Roads were also closed due to fallen trees following a week of severe conditions that has seen villages in Scotland cut off and temperatures falling to nearly -15C.
The Met Office has advised those within the regions covered by alerts to prepare for delays to journeys which could involve dangerous driving conditions and to take extra time when travelling to help avoid slips and falls on the ice.
Seven Football League matches were postponed in England and another seven in Scotland because of Storm Goretti, while the racing at Warwick was also called off over the weekend.
Craig Snell, Met Office forecaster, said Saturday would provide a 'bit of respite' across the UK as the storm moves away - despite a few 'wintry showers', particularly in Scotland.
Of the new weather system approaching the country, Mr Snell said this is expected to start in parts of Northern Ireland on Saturday evening, travelling across into Scotland and Northern England.
He added: 'It will bump up into the cold air and turn to snow again, but this time it is coming in with some milder air so it will transition back to rain for some of us as we go through the course of the night and into tomorrow and that again could lead to some problems with ice so we already have warnings out ahead of that.
'This time the milder air will eventually win the day and it will herald a very different flavour of weather for all of us as we go into next week, but it's going to be a very kind of messy transition.
'So yes, we are expecting some further impacts tomorrow,' the forecaster said on Saturday.
Conditions on Sunday are expected to be 'wet and windy' in the southern half of the UK, but with gusts 'nowhere near as strong as they were for Goretti,' he added.
However, some gales may still hit the coastlands, Mr Snell said, adding that this was not uncommon for the time of year.
Next week, the UK 'will be saying goodbye to the really cold weather', with temperatures of between 9C and 11C expected in the South and around 6C to 8C in the North, the forecaster said.