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Britain had already endured a week of frigid temperatures, with more below-freezing lows expected. A Level 3 cold weather alert is in place for much of England until Friday. The authorities have advised people to check in on vulnerable friends and family to ensure they have access to warm food and drinks and are able to heat their homes.
The extended cold streak has put extra stress on energy supplies. The National Grid, which operates Britain’s electricity system, warmed up two contingency coal plants to “give the public confidence in Monday’s energy supply,” it said in a statement. It said it would not necessarily use the extra units, but that they were available if needed.
In Britain, snow is on the ground for an average of 15.6 days per year, according to the Met Office.
Karl and Liz Tazzyman, who live in Sheffield, England, more than 150 miles north of London, were out observing the snow around Central London early Monday morning.
“Yesterday we were on Oxford Street when it started snowing and it was really exciting,” said Ms. Tazzyman, 38. “It was just lovely and Christmassy and everybody was excited about it.”
Mr. Tazzyman, 42, was equally aware that the cold snap blanketing much of Britain this week could cause financial problems for many.
“There’s a lot of families who will have a very, very hard Christmas,” he said. “It’s heat or eat. For some people it’s one or the other, they can’t pick both.”
John Stean, a plumbing and heating engineer who lives outside of London, said he saw some 200 abandoned cars on the highway on Sunday night as he drove back to Essex from Suffolk. The drive, which usually takes two hours, took about five hours because of the snow, he said.
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