S'no snow or Least from the East: What a disappointment!

Thursday 01 March 2018

Islanders were greeted with only a smattering of snow this morning rather than the 8cm forecast - but the met office says there is more on the way, with an orange snow level alert, and is warning of treacherous icy conditions.

Schools and nurseries are closed and many excited children will have been planning on spending the first big snow day for five years building snowmen and sledging… only be disappointed when they venture outside to find only enough snow to build a stickman.

Jersey Met says the lower levels of the white stuff was caused by warm air pushing from the south, but forecast more snow sometime this morning. But snow concerns have turned into ice concerns as freezing temperatures recorded as low at -2.4 at 07:30 have made the roads and pavements very slippery, with more freezing rain and drizzle and ground frost forecast for the rest of the day. There are also gale force eight winds expected by tonight with the maximum temperature only reaching two degrees.

Snow Warning for Jersey issued at 07:49am Thursday 1st March 2018 pic.twitter.com/QsPVpkNKmy

— CI Weather Warnings (@Jersey_MetCI) March 1, 2018

Police are still warning people not to drive unless they have to, and to allow more time to brake. Jersey Fire Service have already been out and about asking people to be careful on the country roads.

But early contingency plans from yesterday’s red weather alert means the Infrastructure Department have been out gritting the roads this morning and therefore most bus routes are running with only a few areas not accessible due to black ice. Liberty Bus are asking travellers to keep an eye on their social media pages to keep up to date. 

Not quite as much snow as forecast but many of the country roads are still very icy. Please take care if you are out and about this morning #greenwatch pic.twitter.com/EAY8RpJOJy

— Jersey Fire & Rescue (@JsyFire) March 1, 2018

Although the snow levels may not be record-breaking - or a touch on the 14cm that fell in 2013, records have been made at Jersey Electricity. They reported a record use of electricity ‘used at one time’ of 165MW on Tuesday night - but that was broken yet again last night with a whopping peak use of 175MW at 21:45 last night - which is 15MW higher than the previous record in 2012. Jersey Electricity had to use on-island generators yet again to fuel demand. 

Some flights have been cancelled in and out of the island due to the icy conditions here and in the UK. A Ports of Jersey spokesperson said they have contingency plans in place including de-icing runways and aircraft but warned that flight cancellations were inevitable: “Check-in on time as planned (although please allow extra time for your road journey due to icy conditions) unless you are advised otherwise by your airline. If your flight has been cancelled please DO NOT travel to the airport but instead contact your airline directly for alternative travel options. Please note that some airlines are currently offering a change of booking at no extra fee, subject to seat availability.”

Another peak electricity demand record broken!
175.1MW was reached at 09:30pm this evening. 10MW more than last night’s record and 15MW more than the previous record in 2012.
On-island generation once again helped to secure customer demand.

— Jersey Electricity (@electricjersey) February 28, 2018

Appointments at Jersey’s General Hospital are still running to schedule, but a decision was taken yesterday to cancel the clinics at Westmount and Overdale today due to anticipated difficulty in accessing the site. Patients will be contacted and offered new appointments by the Health Department.

The day centres at Sandybrook and The Hollies have been cancelled today too, but both the The Willows and Le Geyt are open but there is no transportation and visitors will need to make their own arrangements. 

Zoo animals will also be keeping warm rather than braving the cold today. Officials announced shortly before 10:00 that they would be closing the premises, stating that the animals will "be keeping nice and cosy in their indoor enclosures."

Pictured: Scenes from the zoo, which has closed for the day due to the snow.

Islanders are being asked to check on elderly and vulnerable family, friends and neighbours during the freezing temperatures. 

Lead photo: The Municipal Services gritting the pavements in St. Helier. (Parish of St. Helier)