Weather set to warm up after Boxing Day snow

Believe it or not temperatures have been rising steadily this week after the sudden Boxing Day snowfall.

In fact, the Met Men are predicting that New Year’s Day will see an almost balmy 11deg C.

But it’s all cold comfort for motorists who have struggled to cope on icy roads, and pedestrians who have slipped on treacherous pavements.

Around three inches of snow fell on Boxing Day evening after temperatures plummeted.

Motorists abandoned their cars at the roadside as untreated routes became impassable.

A spokeswoman for Rotherham Borough Council said: “Grit cannot be laid during periods on rain and it was raining on Boxing Day, turning to snow at around 6pm.

“As soon as it began to snow the gritters were sent out and a team of ten were working through the night, until 6.30am, spreading 360 tons.

“On Saturday a second team went out until 3.30pm.

“Due to the rain the priority was to cover strategic routes.”

The spokeswoman said that the borough council had less than two hours’ notice of snow on Friday.

But she added that the authority still has around 4,000 tons of grit in reserve.

Gritting teams remained on duty in icy conditions as the Record went to press, with some accompanying refuse collectors on their rounds.

The spokeswoman added: “It is up to individual bin collections whether they make collections in certain areas or not. Health and safety is a serious consideration.”

While many reeled from Boxing Day’s snowy conditions others took to their sledges on Saturday.

Artist Chris Slater was among those who visited a picturesque Clifton Park to enjoy the seasonal weather, recording the snowy scenes in paint.