Snow in UK Causes Travel Disruption for Skiers Heading to the Alps

12th December 2022

Stansted airport was temporarily closed on Sunday night but on Monday morning it had re-opened.

It had seen 15cm of snow.

Yellow warnings, meaning conditions will make it difficult to travel, were in place on Monday morning for several loations, but they have now been lifted.

• Northern and south-western Scotland
• Northern Ireland
• North-eastern England
• The Midlands
• The south west
• London and south-east England

National Highways urged only essential travel on roads in the south-east of England on Sunday night.

Southeastern Railway is warned rail passengers against travelling this morning due to the weather disruption.

In a statement, the rail company said snow and ice caused “severe disruption” across the whole Southeastern network on Sunday evening, and services would continue to be disrupted this morning.

They were.

PlanetSKI’s editor, James Cove, was heading to Gatwick and then on to Geneva and Arc 1950 in the French Alps.

Snow in the UK. Image © PlanetSKI

As he arrived the omens were not good as easyJet issued an update saying it is “doing everything possible” to ease the disruption for passengers affected by flight cancellations and disruptions.

“We are doing all possible to minimise the disruption for our customers, including providing hotel rooms and meals for those passengers affected by the cancellations,” said a statement from the airline.

“Customers on cancelled flights have been provided the option of a free transfer to an alternative flight or a refund.”

The Gatwick to Geneva, EZY 8468  was scheduled for 10.40 and we were told on arrival it was delayed until 11.15.

Snow in the UK. Image © PlanetSKI

That soon turned to a possible 12.15 departure.

The plane that had been at our departure gate had vanished.

It didn’t seem good.

Snow in the UK. Image © PlanetSKI

James set off from Gatwick at 06.40.

“It seemed strange to wake up to snow in London when heading to snow in the Alps. South West London was covered in snow,” said James.

Snow in the UK. Image © PlanetSKI

Snow in the UK. Image © PlanetSKI

“With reports of closures on the M25 and limited rail disruption heading to Gatwick, rail seemed the best option to get to Gatwick,” added James.

Snow in the UK. Image © PlanetSKI

Many services were cancelled or delayed with crowded platforms and full trains.

Snow in the UK. Image © PlanetSKI

Snow in the UK. Image © PlanetSKI

The journey from Putney to Gatwick via Clapham Junction usually takes 40 minutes or so.

It took James the best part of 2 hours, but he made it.

Then the wait began.

At  15.00 – more than six hours after James arrived at Gatwick he was on a plane, but then there was further delays with getting the baggage on board.

“Still at least the ski turns will be sweeter, if and when we ever get to the Alps,” said James.

And with that they were finally off – 5 hours or so after the scheduled departure time.

Snow in the UK. Image © PlanetSKI

The travel journalist, Simon Calder, has been speaking to the BBC about the problems at some airports.

“I have now counted more than 300 flight cancellations today,” Simon Calder said at mid-morning.

“At Heathrow Airport, British Airways has cancelled more than 70 flights alone to and from the airport, mostly on European and domestic routes.

“At Gatwick Airport, more than 50 flights have been cancelled on EasyJet, and Luton Airport is also not looking great with around two dozen cancellations.

“But at Stansted Airport, things are moving a bit, with a dozen or so cancellations.”

The cold weather in the UK looks set to stay.

Ice and further snowfall are likely in parts on the UK each day this week with overnight temperatures  below freezing.

It’s still a way off, but the current thinking is that it’ll be Sunday when we start to get some milder air moving in.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on it though because as this warmer, moister air from the Atlantic moves in, it’ll hit the cold air in place and that’s a recipe for significant snow.

The lowest temperature last night got down to -15.6C in Braemar, Scotland.

It makes it the coldest night of the year and coldest since February 2021.

If you are travelling out to the Alps over the next few days we hope you have an easier experience than James.

But it will be worth it…

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