THE BEAST from the East may now have left Warwickshire but it won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
The sub-zero temperatures and blizzard conditions were more reminiscent of Siberia as Shakespeare county endured its coldest weather in nearly 30 years.
Combined with the arrival of Storm Emma, the week-long arctic blast made life more than a little difficult for those who ventured outside.
While Warwickshire got off relatively lightly compared to may other parts of the UK, ice and drifting snow left many roads impassable, forcing some drivers to abandon their vehicles. People took to social media to warn others of roads like ‘ice rinks’ and of snow drifts ‘higher than the car’.
Sue Cameron said her where she lives in south Warwickshire was blocked by huge snow drifts but drivers were being redirected there by sat navs after another road closed elsewhere.
“Some of the drifts were a few feet deep. It happened so quickly with the high winds.
“There were two abandoned cars completely covered in snow. My husband turned back about 30 drivers and helped dig a car out which went in too deep.”
Businesses were also left to count the cost, as shoppers stayed away, and schools in the county were also forced to close.
But in the face of adversity, community spirit shone through as residents with 4×4 vehicles offered to drive NHS staff and take patients to appointments.
Andrew Stubbs, who took one district nurse out on her round, was among them.
He said: “Work wasn’t going to happen so I thought I would offer NHS staff support as I had a 4×4.
“The roads where we went were not too bad, I’m just glad I could help.”
Outdoor sporting fixtures were wiped out by the big freeze, and the annual British Heart Foundation Warwick Half Marathon was also cancelled on Sunday.
