Live Watford Snow Updates (From Watford Observer)

5:31pm

Ross Churchill has written this blog about the very British habit of complaining about snow.

He said: "Fate has conspired to situate us slap-bang in the cross-hairs of two of Earth’s most powerful naturally-occurring phenomena..."

5:24pm

4:39pm

Hassan Ejaz has made this video of his children enjoying the first snow of the year in Watford.

He said: "My kids are two years old and as they are big enough to go out my wife took them outside in the communal park."

4:34pm

4:30pm

4:30pm

4:29pm

4:21pm

Shenley Primary School will open at 10am tomorrow. 

4:19pm

4:08pm

4:03pm

Someone's got the right idea here:

4:02pm

4:01pm

3:56pm

Watford has been granted a break in the snow-fall, but the skies still look dark and foreboding.

3:55pm

3:52pm

3:46pm

Firefighters from Garston and Watford were called to a crash in Tibbs Hill, Abbots Langley today.

The incident took place at 2.12pm and involved two vehicles.

3:41pm

Twitter user @dantelangles, who took the pictures of tulips in the snow, said: "I had the tulips at home and snow covered table outside, so brought the two together as I wasn't able go out."

3:35pm

"This is up near Cavendish School Hemel Hempstead" says @striker2074.

3:32pm

Met Office forecasters are expecting another band of snow to affect the east of the country, with five to ten centimetres expected from Yorkshire down into East Anglia.

In the south-east more snow ill follow tonight, with two to four centimetres in parts of Greater London by tomorrow morning.

Eddy Carroll, Met Office Chief Forecaster, said: "We expect snow to affect many eastern parts of the UK over the next day or so leading to some disruption.

"With some very low temperatures over the next few nights we also expect ice in many places and people should be prepared for travel problems."

3:21pm

Crew commander at Watford Fire Station said they haven't received a huge number of calls today, but suggested "the day is young".

3:19pm

Nice colours from photographer @dantelangles.

3:14pm

A couple more snow pics from Pippa Douglas. 

You can email your pictures to editor@watfordobserver.co.uk or tweet the Owl on @Observer_Owl.

3:09pm

3:06pm

2:57pm

Pupils in Newberries Primary School, Radlett, can be collected early.

2:56pm

Field Junior School in Watford Field Road is closing at 3pm. Parents can collect pupils from 2.45pm.

2:53pm

Here is Lulu, a dog who was taken in by Father David Stevenson of St John’s Church, after an older member of the parish could no longer look after her.

2:45pm

2:45pm

Watford Observer photographer Pippa Douglas has returned from her arctic expedition with these pictures of snowy Watford.

2:37pm

All after-school clubs at St Anthony's Catholic Primary in Mildred Avenue have been cancelled, and the school will close at the normal time.

2:32pm

2:27pm

You can search here to find your nearest salt bin.

2:24pm

Parents of pupils at Abbots Langley Primary School in Parsonage Close can pick their children up early due to the weather. There is no homework club or after school club.

2:20pm

Hertfordshire Constabulary has issued the following travel advice as a result of today's snow.

Take extra precautions if planning to drive, be prepared for the journey to take longer than usual and take extreme care.

Ensure you are wearing sensible and warm clothing and footwear, and if you are travelling by car, you should be prepared for a breakdown and carry extra provisions such as a flask of hot drink, food, blankets and a shovel.

 

2:18pm

2:13pm

2:11pm

@cer20 sent in this picture of the first snow of the winter on Watford Heath.

2:10pm

2:09pm

"Snow-doubt it is going white in Abbots Langley" says @AbbotsLangleyPC

2:03pm

1:59pm

Hertfordshire Police have been called to the first snow-related job of the day.

Four police cars descended on a road in West Watford after snow horseplay descended into a brawl.

Officers were called by a member of the public around 1.20pm today who reported there were a number of men punching each other by the shops on Tolpits Lane.

Officers found one male with a cut face and were told the fight had started after messing around in the snow got out of hand.

No arrests have yet been made.

1:58pm

Schools in south west Hertfordshire are open as usual today, but some in Letchworth, Stevenage and Hitchin are closing early.

1:56pm

1:51pm

1:50pm

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1:28pm

An area of high pressure over Scandinavia has allowed cold air from the Baltic and western Russia to move towards the UK.

It is uncertain how long the cold weather will stay.

This is the first winter when newly appointed highways contractors Ringway will be carrying out the job gritting the county's roads.

The county has access to 12,000 tonnes of salt for treating the roads, and more than 20 gritting runs have been undertaken already.

Stuart Pile, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "We have done everything we can to prepare for a cold snap.

“Our salt stocks are full, salt bins have been filled and district, borough and parish councils have been provided with salt to help keep key routes, particularly pavements, safer during cold spells.

"If you are driving, please leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front, steer and brake very gently and reduce your overall speed.

“Please also allow extra time for any journeys you make. Pedestrians are also asked to take a great deal of care on pavements and when crossing the road."

1:26pm

1:26pm

1:25pm

Snow is falling on top of the light dusting Watford received over night.

The Met Office's amber weather warning issued on Sunday has been extended as a band of snow moves over the country.

It is set to increase this afternoon before fragmenting later on. The worst hit areas will be left with five to ten centimetres of snow.

1:20pm