Adverse Weather forces shows all over Essex to cancel again

Britain is facing one of the coldest winters in 100 years with conditions causing “widespread, persistent and severe” problems this week, forecasters have warned.

This has affected the horse world in more ways than one- not only are horses stuck indoors, many show organisers have been forced to cancel due to adverse weather and concerns over safety.

With many more inches of snow due to fall in parts of the country today and over the weekend, transport chaos is expected on roads, trains and at airports.

MeteoGroup weather division, said up to 15cm of snow could end up lying over “wide areas” by Friday, with the south experiencing “significant or even major difficulties to infrastructures, particularly transport”.

This could cause huge problems for people travelling with horse boxes or trailers, and the AA have urged people not to travel unless it is deemed absolutely necessary.

Temperatures fell as low as minus 10C (14F) across southern England overnight, with no end in sight to the freezing weather.

Stephen Davenport, senior meteorologist at MeteoGroup, said: “This is stretching the limits of short to medium term forecasting but so entrenched is this cold-weather pattern that it seems only a major upheaval in the atmosphere will bring a return to something milder.

“Should conditions continue in a similar vein then by March we might just be looking back at one of the coldest winters of the last 100 years.” He added: “There are more immediate concerns in the shape of a very snowy spell this week.

“Heavy snow showers or more widespread snow will continue to move across northern and eastern areas of Britain, bringing further accumulations of several centimetres in places and causing notable disruptions to transportation.

“By Friday or even sooner there will be several centimetres of snow lying over wide areas, to depths of five to 10, or even 15, centimetres. In a few ill-favoured areas the persistence and heaviness of the snow could bring accumulations well in excess of 20 centimetres.”

By mid-afternoon yesterday more snow reached the south east and by the evening there was disruptive snowfall in the south, the south Midlands and south Wales.

Thousands of children have enjoyed days off this week, today, 66% of schools were closed in Essex today however in the south east the worst hit county was Surrey, with 93% of schools closed.

The AA also warned that the roads were likely to be busy this week with worsening weather conditions combined with the return to school in many areas.

Grit stocks in England are holding up according to the Highways Agency, but Fife council in Scotland had to have several hundred tonnes of salt and grit delivered by the Scottish government after supplies ran low.

Many of this weekend’s competitions have already been cancelled in Essex following a terrible week of weather. Some include;

Brook Farm Training Centre- Dressage cancelled on Saturday 9^th and Sunday 10^th as well as evening Show Jumping cancelled.

Harolds Park Farm- Christmas Show Sunday 10^th is cancelled.

Norton Heath Equestrian Centre- Affiliated dressage cancelled on Thursday 7^th and BSJA Senior Show jumping cancelled on Sunday 10^th

Wix Equestrian Centre- Affiliated Show jumping on Sunday 10^th is cancelled.

Saffron Walden Riding Club- Childrens Show jumping cancelled

With temperatures across Essex tonight, averaging at minus three degrees, and further snow showers forecast, it is expected that many more shows will be cancelled. Please check before you travel, and stay safe this weekend.

Let us know via our face book page if you are a show organiser or if you know of a show that has been cancelled.

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