Snow blog: Updates, pictures and tweets

8:30pm Thursday 17th January 2013 in Headlines

This live event has finished

7:45am

Good morning.

We're launching a new blog for the weekend. You can find it here.

And remember to check oxfordmail.co.uk on Monday morning for the school closures.

7:43am

12:22am Sat 19 Jan 13

TELLINGitHOWitIS says

GREAT FUN in oxford in south park. brill!!

8:26pm

The M40 still a problem.

Our traffic service says: Two lanes closed and queueing traffic due to jackknifed lorry and recovery work on M40 Northbound between J10 A43 (Brackley / Cherwell Valley Services) and J11 A361 / A422 (Banbury). Travel time is up to 30 minutes. Lanes two and three (Of three) are closed about four miles after J10. A lorry jackknifed at around 16:30, and recovery is now underway.

7:58pm

Cracking picture
 

5:56pm

The closure of two lanes on the M40 northbound between junctions 10 and 11 has been reported after a lorry ended up jack-knifed on the carriageway.

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5:45pm

Stagecoach has announced its 66 service from Swindon to Oxford won’t run at 10.10pm today, and nor will the return journey at 11.25pm

5:43pm

Tonight's Open Table Tennis session at Ferry Centre is cancelled, owing to the prevailing weather.

4:33pm

Delays of up to 40 minutes on Chiltern Railway between Bicester North and Marylebone due to problem with lineside equipment between High Wycombe and Beaconsfield. There is no current estimate for when a normal service will resume.
Last updated 28 minutes ago

4:21pm

Reports journeys in North Oxfordshire taking up to five times longer than normal

4:19pm

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4:05pm

Oxford Ice Rink reports it is still open. Maybe go there to get a bit warmer??

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4:01pm

Barton Leisure Centre will close early at 5.30pm, while StreetSports sessions at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre tonight are off.

3:57pm

Woodgreen Leisure Centre now closed. It'll reopen tomorrow for bookings until 12.30pm. Kidlington Leisure Centre shuts at 5pm today, while Spiceball and Bicester are closing at 7pm.

3:56pm

 

3:21pm

Oxford United's game against Rotherham is off due to the snow. It is not because of the pitch but due to the safety of fans moving around the roads and stadium.

3:08pm

First Great Western have made this announcement about tickets because of the weather.

Alterations to Ticket Restrictions Due to the current weather conditions ticket restrictions across the First Great Western network have been altered.
Customers holding tickets valid for travel today will be allowed to travel at any time of the day on First Great Western services. Customers who do not wish to travel today may use tickets dated today (18/01/2013) for travel tomorrow (19/01/2013).
Customers who no longer wish to travel and require a refund should contact First Great Western customer services on 0845 7000 125 or attend any staffed First Great Western station. Normal refund rules still apply.
In spite of the disruption, customers are still expected to hold a valid ticket prior to boarding train services.
First Great Western tickets are being accepted on South West Trains and CrossCountry on any reasonable route.

2:49pm

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Oxford Bus Company said services are running on all the main routes but bus drivers are experiencing difficulties where routes leave the main roads.

Spokesman Phil Ashworth said: “Our coach services to London and Heathrow and Gatwick are still running although traffic is very slow. The  X90 service will now run every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour  from Gloucester Green. 

“The City13 Northway service will operate via Copse Lane in both directions missing out Ambleside Drive and Derwent Avenue.

“But some good news CityX3/X13 are now back to normal route.

“The Wolvercote City6  will now operate along the Woodstock Road only to the roundabout missing out Mere Road and Lower Wolvercote.

“The City 4c service will not operate to Dean Court and will start and finish at Elms Parade, as is already the case with the Elms Rise/Arnolds Way services.

“U1 services are unable to get to Harcourt Hill. Instead they will terminate at Elms Parade (Seacourt Bridge Pub).

“The City8 can’t service all of Barton. It  will operate via Bayswater Road, left into Stowford Road, around Underhill Circus and back out the same route.  Barton Village Road, Fettiplace Road and Waynefleet Road are not accessible to our buses.”

2:44pm

Oxford City has confirmed tomorrow's game against Halifax is off.

2:40pm

Our traffic service is reporting the following:
Queueing traffic due to snow on A34 Southbound between A4185 (Chilton Interchange) and High Street (East Ilsley). Lorries are having difficulty climbing the hill. Traffic is very slow in the area.

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2:14pm

The Oxford Mail Girls League programme has been called off

2:13pm

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2:09pm

1:53pm

The Oxford Tube is running a half hourly service from Oxford to London, departing Gloucester Green at 20 and 50 minutes past the hour.

Stagecoach services are running on roads that are still passable however the company said it expected delays in some areas.

The services below have been particularly affected by the snow.
 
The S3 service is unable to run due to the heavy snow.
•             The X9 service is unable to run due to the heavy snow.
•             The 18/19 services are unable to run due to the heavy snow.
•             The 488 service is unable to run due to the heavy snow.
•             The X8 service is unable to run due to the heavy snow.
•             The 64 service is unable to run due to the heavy snow.
S1 service update
•             Buses can now serve Farmoor however they are unable to serve Oxford Hill in Witney so they will run via Ducklington Lane.
•             Buses are also unable to serve Curbridge and Brize Norton.
S2 service update
•             Buses are unable to serve Minster Lovell and Tower Hill, they will run via the A40.
 
S4 service update
•             Buses are unable to serve villages along the route, it will only be running via the A4260.
 
S5 service update
•             Buses are only able to run to the Market square in Bicester, the surrounding estates and villages are not passable.
•             Is unable to stop at the Wendlebury bus stops on the A41.
Other services
•             The 200 is unable to serve Wardington.
•             The 11 and 242 is unable to serve North Leigh so it will run via the main road (A4095). 
•             The 233 is unable to serve Burford, the bus will be turning at the A40/A361 roundabout.
•             The B5 will terminate at Word Green Avenue.
•             The 14A is unable to run via Marston village.
•             The B8 will be terminating at Ruscote Avenue, Banbury.
•             The 500 is unable to serve Chacombe and Pavillons Way.

1:03pm

1:03pm

Chipping Norton Leisure Centre closed at 1pm. Windrush, Carterton and Bartholomew centres remain open

1:02pm

Cherwell District Council has shut its offices at 12pm.

12:49pm

Harcourt Hill campus of Oxford Brookes is now closed.

It said all other campuses of the university were open.

12:40pm

12:39pm

12:38pm

217 schools now closed or due to be closed by 1pm across Oxfordshire. List on our Schools Closure page

12:32pm

The Pendon Museum in High Street, Long Wittenham, will not open this weekend due to the weather. It hopes to re-open on Monday.

12:23pm

Oxford City FC due to make an announcement about tomorrow's game vs Halifax at 2pm.

12:20pm

All music service activities run by the Oxfordshire County Council Music Service have been cancelled for tomorrow in Oxford, Abingdon, Wantage, Wallingford, Bicester, Banbury, Chipping Norton, Kidlington, Witney and Thame.

The Britten Writing for Voices project due to take place at Somerville College has also been called off.

12:18pm

Redbridge Waste Recycling Centre is now closed, says county council.

12:16pm

12:14pm

Best caption so far

12:12pm

Our picture gallery of the snow is online and updated

12:08pm

Cotswold Wildlife Park is closed because of the snow

12:07pm

Following its earlier warning, Vale of White Horse District Council has now cancelled bin collections today.
It said weather permitting the rounds begin again on Monday.
Anyone who not receive a scheduled collection today is asked to leave bins out and they will be added to Monday's rounds.

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12:03pm

Ardley Waste Recycling Centre closing at 12.30pm, county council says.

12:01pm

South Oxfordshire District Council has also cancelled its bins rounds. Hopes to get back on track on Monday. It says if your bin was not emptied, you should leave it out and it will be added to Monday's rounds.

About 70 per cent of the rounds were done today, the council says.

11:59am

Cherwell District Council has cancelled bin collections today. It hopes to restart on Monday

11:58am

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11:36am

The latest from Oxford Bus Company is that there are no cancellations although the snow is making conditions “a little more difficult than earlier”.

11:36am

Loads more schools closing at lunchtime. It's all on an ever-expanding list on our Schools Closure page

11:33am

Recycling centres at Oakley Wood, Drayton, Stanford, Alkerton are closed along with Dix Pit Household Waste Recycling Centre, according to Oxfordshire County Council.

11:28am

North Kidlington School closed now, please pick up children as soon as possible

11:27am

Police have warned motorists not to drive unless absolutely necessary to due to the bad weather.

And the situation across the region has deteriorated so much that ambulance crews are now using 4x4s to attend calls.

Thames Valley Police also told drivers not to abandon their vehicles, as they may obstruct emergency service vehicles and major roads or motorways.

The vehicles may have to be removed with the driver liable for any recovery fee.

The force also re-iterated that there was no law stopping anyone from clearing snow and ice from the pavement outside their home, as long as it is cleared carefully with salt or sand, rather than water, which is likely to refreeze and turn to black ice.

Residents are being reminded to check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours who may be in need of assistance.

And the public has been reminded that emergency calls for ambulance, police and fire services should be made in genuine emergency situations only.

Spokesman for South Central Ambulance Service James Keating-Wilkes said: “All available qualified clinical staff are out on the road responding to emergency calls.

"We are using 4x4’s to get to patients in the most hard to reach areas. SCAS expects to see an increased demand on our services due to the adverse weather conditions and we may take longer to get to locations due to the poor driving conditions caused by the weather.

“Our priority is to get to people as quickly and as safely as possible in spite of the difficult conditions and this means that journeys are taking longer than they would normally.

“We are doing everything that we can to manage the anticipated increased demand and are urging people to help us by not going out unless absolutely necessary and by only phoning 999 in the event of a medical emergency.”

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11:09am

Oxford United are inspecting the Kassam pitch at 10am on Saturday, ahead of their game vs Rotherham United. We will have the decision on that online and via @OxfordMailOUFC on Twitter

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10:47am

More schools announcing closures at lunchtime. Click on our School Closures page

10:41am

A number of library services have been hit by the bad weather.
Charlbury and Burford library have closed, and the South East Mobile, West Mobile, North Mobile and Children's Mobile services will not run today.

10:41am

Transport to all of Oxfordshire’s day centres for people with learning disabilities and older people has been suspended.

Oxfordshire County Council said all service users that have been affected were contacted directly.

Many centres are open today for those who wish to make their own way, however the advice is to contact the centre direct if you are in any doubt before travelling.

10:38am

Dix Pit Household Waste Recycling Centre, in Lynch Hill, Stanton Harcourt, is closed. All others currently remain open.
And Tilsley Park Leisure Centre in Boars Hill, Abingdon, will be shut today and tomorrow due to snow.

All other leisure centres in the Vale of White Horse District Council will remain open unless stated.
If the current snowfall continues it said the district's waste collection service could become disrupted.

10:22am

Dix Pit Household Waste Recycling Centre, in Lynch Hill, Stanton Harcourt, is closed. All others currently remain open.

10:06am

The Oxford Mail OX5 Run corporate lunch today at Blenheim Palace has been cancelled due to the snow

9:58am

First Great Western staff on train pulling into Oxford has just said there may be service changes with not much notice if the weather gets worse, so please be aware.

9:41am

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9:38am

Now 88 schools closed or part-closed in Oxfordshire due to snow. See here for full list.

9:36am

Tilsley Park Leisure Centre in Abingdon will be shut today and tomorrow due to snow.

 

All other leisure centres in the Vale of White Horse District Council will remain open unless otherwise stated.

If the current snowfall continues the council said the district's waste collection service could become disrupted.

9:24am

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9:15am

9:11am

Seventy seven schools in Oxfordshire now closed or part closed 

9:05am

Snow falling much more heavily in Oxford now

9:02am

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8:34am

Fifty seven schools now closed or part-closed in Oxfordshire. See here for full list.

8:27am

Light snow now falling in Oxford and Witney...

8:19am

Forty seven schools now closed or part-closed in Oxfordshire this morning. Click here for full list.

8:12am

Tweet from Domsdads:

Snow in Ox2 @TheOxfordMail @BBCOxford pic.twitter.com/fufIgzzM

8:07am

Thirty six schools in Oxfordshire closed or part-closed this morning. Click here for full list.

8:06am

All the gritters on Oxfordshire's roads have been fitted with snowploughs.

7:58am

According to Met office predictions snow is expected to hit Oxford city just before 9am, with northern Oxfordshire expected to see the first flakes over the region.

 

Experts predict between 5 and 10cm of snow is expected to fall over the city in the next 24 hours, accompanied with a bitterly cold wind and gusts of up to 30mph, which will make it feel up to five times colder than given temperatures.

7:56am

Heavy snow is forecast to start in Oxfordshire at 9am and continue until 12pm when it will get slightly lighter.

It is then forecast to continue snowing into this evening.

7:48am

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7:40am

Oxfordshire County Council has sent its gritters out across the county this morning.

 

It is not responsible for gritting the M40 or the A34 however, that is the responsibility of the Highways Agency.

The county council's emergency planning officer Bethan Morgan has told drivers to take extra care.

 

She added: "As usual the council will seek to advise people as promptly as possible should any of our services be affected by the weather conditions.

"Staying up to date with the developing picture will help people make judgements about their travel arrangements, including whether a journey should be made at all or whether more time should be allowed for that journey.

 

7:36am

Now 24 school closures or part closures reported in Oxfordshire today. Click here for full list.

7:28am

7:28am

Stagecoach Oxford says all services running normally except the S3 which is unable to serve Cornish Road in Chipping Norton.

7:28am

Oxford seen little or no snow so far

7:27am

Lots more school closures announced. See the full list.

7:17am

Remember you can help us with information and pictures today, especially on the roads. Post a comment below or tweet to @theoxfordmail using #oxsnow

7:14am

Waste collection services have started early in the Vale, South Oxfordshire and Oxford city this morning to beat the snow. 

7:13am

A reader on Facebook says a light dusting in Witney

7:12am

Met Office forecasters predict snow will arrive in Oxfordshire at 9am.

 

As of 7am five schools in Oxfordshire have announced closures today.

Northern House School in Summertown, Oxford is expected to re-open on Monday, as is Great Rollright Primary School in West Oxfordshire and Burford School.

 

Chipping Norton School in  is closed, but open for public exams only, and Kingham Primary School is closed, but at the moment is expected to re-open tomorrow.

For a full list, see our school closures page 

7:08am

Oxford Bus Company says all services running as normal this morning.

7:08am

No snow yet in Oxford but it's very icy. 

We'll bring you the latest news on the weather as we get it. 

By noon today forecasters say it will feel like -9C so wrap up warm! 

6:57am

School closures beginning to roll in.

Updates posted on our Schools Closure page

10:13pm

Weather forecast from the Met Office tonight has sleet tonight, light snow coming in around 9am and the heavy stuff at midday. Light snow after that, through to Saturday morning. Light snow early hours Sunday morning and then in the afternoon, plus some on Monday.

Out west in the county the forecast is the heavy snow coming in earlier, around 9am. It lightens up mid-afternoon. That continues through to midday Saturday, according to the current forecast. Sunday may be clear but snow returns on Monday.

In the north the Met Office is saying light snow tomorrow morning and heavy around lunchtime. Light snow comes back mid-afternoon and into the evening. Saturday morning may see light snow and mid-afternoon Sunday. Snow forecast for Monday as well.

South Oxfordshire is forecast to get heavy snow 9am-ish and through past lunchtime. Light snow then continues through the night. You may wake up to a bit more snow early Saturday and then again on Sunday afternoon. Monday morning may see a return of the snow, says the Met Office.

9:52pm

Remember this works much better with your input in the morning. If you've got extra information about how heavy the snow is, what the roads are like, post a comment below or fire up your Twitter machine using the #oxsnow hashtag.

9:46pm

8:58pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Tracer1999 says

Grunden Skip wrote:
Happy to say that only a mile from Carfax, sat under my Gazebo, with the Chiminea blazing away, that the snow has stopped, what was there is melting, and we can happily go to work in the morning. That is the forecast.
Hope so grunny I need money

8:45pm

First picture in

8:36pm

It's another Oxford Mail weather blog. Just four weeks after the floods now we will seemingly have a load of snow tomorrow morning.

We'll be running updates, weather forecasts, affects on the roads and trains, etc.

Please send us your snow pictures, either via email or Twitter, using the hashtag #oxsnow.

Please note the list of school closures is on a separate page. Click here for that.

 

Comments(6)

Grunden Skip says...
8:56pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Happy to say that only a mile from Carfax, sat under my Gazebo, with the Chiminea blazing away, that the snow has stopped, what was there is melting, and we can happily go to work in the morning. That is the forecast.

Report this post »

Tracer1999 says...
8:58pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Grunden Skip wrote:
Happy to say that only a mile from Carfax, sat under my Gazebo, with the Chiminea blazing away, that the snow has stopped, what was there is melting, and we can happily go to work in the morning. That is the forecast.
Hope so grunny I need money

Report this post »

Myron Blatz says...
12:36am Fri 18 Jan 13

Like 'man bites dog' ...... surely a really 'hot' news story would be six inches of snow, in August?

Report this post »

cweb says...
8:37am Fri 18 Jan 13

The phrase "Five times colder" has to be the most meaningless phrase I have seen... If you mean "it will feel like -10C when the air temp is -2C, just say that instead.

Report this post »

Grunden Skip says...
2:25pm Fri 18 Jan 13

Tracer1999 wrote:
Grunden Skip wrote:
Happy to say that only a mile from Carfax, sat under my Gazebo, with the Chiminea blazing away, that the snow has stopped, what was there is melting, and we can happily go to work in the morning. That is the forecast.
Hope so grunny I need money
I didn't say anything about getting home from work though :-(

Report this post »

TELLINGitHOWitIS says...
12:22am Sat 19 Jan 13

GREAT FUN in oxford in south park. brill!!

Report this post »

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