Weather hits the holiday

Mar 22 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

Weather hits the holiday

BAD weather blighted many people’s plans for the start of Easter yesterday.

High winds and low temperatures have even led bookmakers to take bets on a white Easter in some parts of the country as Merseysiders wrapped up to beat the cold.

With a freezing forecast predicting snowfalls over the

weekend, bookmakers William Hill offered punters odds of 8/1 on a snowy Easter.

Walkers on Crosby beach faced blustery winds and choppy seas as coastal areas took a battering, while shoppers in Liverpool city centre spent the day battling unpredictable gusts.

A coastguard spokesman, based at Blundellsands, said choppy seas and sleet was keeping people off the water.

He said: “We’re hoping winds will back off but should it change direction, people might feel inclined to get back out and it’s a case of us keeping our eyes peeled.”

The unpleasant weather may even add to the record numbers expected to head to John Lennon airport as thousands travel to sunnier climes.

Jeremy Plester, of MeteoGroup, said: “This is going to be one of the colder Easters.”

He added that fronts coming in from the north west on Thursday would cause winds to pick up, with possible snow but Merseyside should remain sheltered from the worst of the icy blasts.

In Cheshire, however, the Met Office has warned there is a potential for snow, with 2cms at low levels and 5-10cms on higher ground.

Disruption to transport networks is possible for a time.

Temperatures are not expected to reach higher than around 6C (43F) today when it will be bright in some areas.

Tomorrow will be a little warmer, with temperatures up to 9C (48F).

richarddown