Blizzard-like snowfall which has swept through England, including Kent, has been labelled ‘The Beast from the East’ – grounding flights and cancelling trains and schools across the country.The closing of schools across Britain has delighted many children, with Daniel Akpan from Farringtons School saying ‘I’m in heaven – my two favourite things: snow and holidays’.

The weather phenomenon occurring here in Britain is called a ‘Polar Vortex’ – this is a large area of extremely cold air which lays above the Earth’s north and south poles. This Polar vortex has split into two freezing ‘vortices’ which have carried immense amounts of cold air from Siberia to the UK. This movement from the east is what has given it its name.

Six inches of snow is expected to fall in the South-East of England, with Chislehurst reaching lows of -3°c. The chilly weather is predicted to carry on through March, causing strong winds and outbreaks of snow. As a result of this, the MET office has issued yellow warnings for the south of England and amber for the north, warning civilians across the UK to be prepared for the coming weather.

In Heathrow, over 80 flights were cancelled due to snow and wind and 4 were cancelled in Gatwick, and this disruption is expected to continue in March.

Moreover, the wind is expected to cause high tides and dangerous waves along parts of the east coast, to the extent to which the Army is now on standby to assist if conditions get worse.

Public Health England has issued advice to deal with the cold weather, saying to people across the UK to stock up food, stay home and wear insulative clothes and grippy shoes. 

Arman Parsa

Farringtons School