Monday the 2nd February 2009 saw some of the heaviest snow falls the UK has seen for 20 years, with Airports closed, buses and trains cancelled. Although Swansea was nowhere near as snowy, I thought I would pop out and get some pics of the snow... I will update this page as and when I get out to take more...
Apologies for the slight fuzziness of the pictures - I took these using my mobile phone as I didn't plan to take pics when I went out... I was so breath-taken I decided to take some!
***IMPORTANT NOTICE - Although I've written it below, let me please point out that ALL in-car pics were taken WHILST STATIONARY - I am not stupid enough to risk my license (and more importantly my life) to take pics on my mobile while moving... it was just too cold to get out so I took them from inside the car... I have had a few comments asking why I was driving and taking pictures so thought I'd point it out a bt more clearly***
Hendre-foilan Lane, just as a big blizzard was hitting... I had to cut a driving lesson short due to a blizzard causing lack of visibility!
Another picture of Hendre-foilan Lane
The snow was starting to stick to the road so I decided to head home
Strangely enough the local restaurants were a bit quiet... The car parks however were slightly marked by tyre marks in the snow!
This in theory is a 60mph road - not tonight! And by the way ALL pictures are taken while stationary - I'm not stupid!
A local industrial estate - even at this time of night there is normally a steady movement of vehicles... Again, the only signs of movement were tyre circles around the junctions...
Soooooooooooooooo tempting to go play! hehe...
***UPDATE 03/03/09***
The Snow has stuck, and what's more its still snowing, getting heavier and
heavier... This morning I was supposed to have a Practical Test for one of
my pupils - strangely enough it was cancelled so I took the opportunity to
get out and snap some more pictures around swansea... It's amazing to see
the difference to last night... Whereas before there was peace and beauty,
now there is carnage, with filthy slushy roads, abandoned cars (some fine,
some with lampposts where their headlights should be), and cars driving along
at 45 degree angles...
Here are some more pictures from around Swansea
This was the scene at dawn this morning as I got up to check if the test was going to happen... Wonder why I thought it wasn't going to happen!
Sunrise reveals how far and deep the snow is...
My housemate's boyfriend Dave is up early to get the car roadworthy...
Siloh Road, where I live...
The Swansea Test Centre... A little too white to be useable...
Even thought the gritters have been out, Brynhyfryd Square was still quite icy and white...
At this time of day, this road is normally back to back in traffic... Not today...
Many people made the sensible choice and stayed at home...
Not massively comfortable driving conditions
I can't see many people being caught by this camera today...
Again, normally heaving at this time of day, Carmarthen Road is fairly desolate...
This is as far as I got before turning around... Even with green lights, the traffic had ground to a halt... The hill on the other side of these lights had become an ice rink with cars getting half way up and then sliding straight down...
Back at home, the dogs' visit outside was very brief! It's a little cold for their little paws...
A mate Nathan sent me this pic from his house of the roofs of Swansea, normally a variety of colours, now all white...
And another friend Mike sent me this picture from outside his house in Killay - this was AFTER the gritters had been! Hardly made a dent...
***Further Update 03/02/09 3pm***
The sun is out, and the snow is starting to melt, so thought I'd pop out again and get a few more pictures while there's nice light and some snow left! The weather forecast is for more snow tonight, but I'll be happy with what we've had so far personally, cause I want to get back to teaching!!!
Still some untouched snow around
But the sun has definitely started to have an effect - this will be dangerous later when it freezes!
Cwm Level Park - kids taking advantage of a day off to build snowmen in the park...
Cwm Level Park panorama - click the image to see it full size
Siloh road feeling the effects of the sun
The corner of Siloh road and Pentre Treharne road where I live - again click on the image for the full size picture
More pics to follow if the snow sticks!!!
click below to return the the gallery page
