On this day in history : 4th April 2000 – Freak weather conditions, including blizzards and flooding, brings chaos to rail, road and air travel – on the coldest April day on record in the UK….
It was two weeks into British summer time and heavy snowfall had blanketed much of the countryside…. One of the worst hit areas were the Pennines, where the A57 Snake Pass was blocked….
Thousands of newborn lambs were frozen in the snow, as gale force winds blew snowdrifts of up to 5ft deep….
The AA reported many accidents across the UK although much of the traffic was at a standstill…. Cars were abandoned on Dartmoor as winds in Devon reached 65mph….
Amber weather warnings were in place…. Across parts of the South heavy rain caused flooding and some homes were flooded….
Trains were unable to run and Luton Airport had to close for 10 hours overnight – with some 20 planes being diverted to Birmingham and Stanstead….
At the time scientists were identifying a general trend in climate change but were in disagreement as to what was causing it…. Reports were suggesting it was down to a combination of human activity, solar activity and warmer oceans….
Cottage Capers 