The billowing blizzards of Siberian snow have finally hit the UK after reaching Europe this week, and Ilford is just one area subject to it. The huge, thick snowflakes falling have roused the excitement of a colossal amount of adults and children alike, with most people celebrating finally getting the ‘white winter’ they wanted so badly.
Fariyah, a local teenager in Ilford, said that she has “played in the snow all day long” and is going to do so tomorrow as well. She says that snow makes the “perfect backdrop for photos”, with its gracefulness and soft settling, and that it is great for having “extreme snowball fights”.
This snowy weather seems like a blessing to some, but others are put off by it; with schools, businesses, and transport routes in temporary closure, some people are having a hard time seeing the bright side of the scenario. To them, a snow day means missed education, evacuation from train stations, and missing out on work rather than the fun day off that others may view it as. Noor Mahmud said that she will be “missing out on a lot of” her lessons due to school being cancelled. Loxford School of Science and Technology is an example of a school in Ilford in closure due to the snow.
But what actually caused this extreme weather? -This cold weather is a result of air currents above the arctic slowing down and causing cold air to be expelled into the ocean. Although it coats buildings in Ilford with a layer of snow, giving them the aura of magnificent and majestic structures, this very snow is the cause of delays and closures. As well as this, it is also the cause of injuries due to slipping by foot or whilst on a vehicle.
This beautiful snow can be destructive, so play with it moderately and carefully. It may cause inconveniences to some people in terms of delaying education and work, but at the same time it is what brings joy to millions of people, so we should be grateful for this natural phenomenon and try to view the closures in a positive light- catch up on revision to make up for missed lessons, do work from the comfort of home, or even just relax for the day. Whatever the choice, at least there is a way around the situation! Try to tame the ‘Beast of the East’ by making the most of the situation it puts you in, and perhaps it will no longer be such a bad thing!
By: Mahnoor Shoaib, Woodford County High School
