Hard Winter Facing Down Europe
LONDON – Weather – Europeans are struggling with winter weather. Great Britain is experiencing Yellow Alerts with Wind and Rain warnings, as parts of the UK have struggled with flooding. Across Europe, the impact of the polar vortex has been to plunge the continent into cold temperatures in a region not used to what Canadians would view as reasonable winter conditions.
The Met Weather Service is advising: “Southeasterly winds will strengthen in the early hours of Monday morning to reach gale to severe gale force across Northern Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland. Coastal and hill top gusts of 50-60 mph are expected quite widely, and perhaps 70 mph over the Western Isles, whilst inland gusts are likely to reach 45-50 mph.
“High tides and large waves will lead to the risk of minor coastal flooding, mainly due to wave and spray overtopping, whilst a spell of heavy rain is likely before winds ease down. The gales will ease across Northern Ireland and southwest Scotland in the early afternoon, and over the Hebrides by the evening”.
European Flooding
Areas of France and Italy are also under flooding alerts. The issue, especially for Italy has been heavy rainfall. Rivers in Tuscany have caused flooding that has impacted over 1000 residents.
The Arno River has risen quickly, and there are concerns over flooding in Florence.
Rain combined with seasonal high tides have raised fears for flooding in Venice. The ‘Canal City’ is bracing against severe flooding as high tides combined with heavy rains are seeing tides rising almost a metre and a half above the average sea levels.
In Orlando Italy, flooding has the Italian Government mobilized to help.
Minus 22c Temperatures Freeze Romania
In Romania, snowfall has brought the military out to clear roadways. A blizzard last week stranded many small communities where heavy snow blocked roads and cut villages off from the rest of the country.
Heavy snow in Serbia has stranded drivers in their vehicles. The government has advised drivers not to travel unless absolutely needed.
In Croatia it has been heavy drifting snow that has impacted travelling in the European country.
The problem across Europe, as the snow has stopped has been temperatures dropping well below freezing. In many more southerly climates, people are far less prepared for extreme cold. The dangers of water main breaks, frozen pipes, and in some parts of Europe homes are not heated or insulated like in more northerly climates.
