Continue reading »]]> Nearly five million barrels of oil have gushed from the BP’s well since the Deepwater Horizon spill began on April 20, federal scientists said on Monday in announcing the most precise estimates yet of the well’s flow rate. The estimates would make this spill far bigger than the 3.3 million barrels spilled by the Mexican rig Ixtoc I in 1979, previously believed to be the world’s largest accidental release of oil.

Federal science and engineering teams estimated that 53,000 barrels of oil per day were pouring from the well just before BP was able to cap it on July 15. They also estimated that the daily flow rate had lessened over time, starting at around 62,000 barrels a day and decreasing as the reservoir of hydrocarbons feeding the gusher was gradually depleted.

The teams believe that the estimates are accurate to within 10 percent. They also reported that of the roughly 4.9 million barrels that had been released from the well, about 800,000 had been captured by BP’s previous containment efforts. That leaves over four million barrels that gushed into the Gulf of Mexico between April 20 and July 15.

The amount of oil estimated to be pouring from the well has been a matter of dispute from the earliest days of the BP spill. Federal and BP officials initially announced that no oil appeared to be leaking, then 1,000 barrels a day, then 5,000 a day, frequently repeating that spill estimates are rough at best and that the main goal was to stop the well. But criticism mounted that no effort was being made to measure the leak with more certainty.

The Obama administration announced the creation of a scientific group dedicated to analyzing the flow rate, which came up with a new estimate of 12,000 to 19,000 barrels a day in late May, a figure that was almost immediately met with skepticism. That, too, was later revised upwards several times before Monday’s announcement. Previous estimates came from analysis of videos from remote controlled vehicles at the wellhead, modeling of the reservoir and measurements of the oil that was collected by surface ships in the response effort.

After BP capped the well, these measurements could be reinforced by pressure readings within the well. Those pressure readings were compared with pressure estimates when the well was first drilled to determine if the rate had changed over time, which it apparently did.

The government is continuing to study the data and may refine the estimate.

Officials also postponed until Tuesday the "static kill" method of capping the well indefinitely. The plan involves pumping heavy drilling mud, and possibly cement, into the runaway Macondo well, with the aim of sealing it by the end of the week.

Source

Continue reading »]]> After a morning of rushed evacuations, the tsunami that reached Hawaii midday Saturday was smaller than officials had feared, causing no reported damage and never rising more than about three feet above sea levels, authorities said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center lifted its warning for Hawaii about two hours after the series of waves hit Hawaiian shores, and later for most of the rest of the Pacific.

"It’s a big relief," said Jenifer Rhoades, the National Weather Service’s tsunami program coordinator. "It was pretty scary. We’re glad it turned out to be an event where there wasn’t tremendous impacts in terms of loss of life."

The cancellation means residents who evacuated could begin returning to their homes. More than 144,000 people lived in the evacuation zone.

The biggest waves were reported at Kahului Bay in Maui, but even there no flooding or damage was reported, said Shelly Ichishita, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Defense Civil Defense Division.

"All the evidence indicated it would be larger," said Barry Hirshorn, a geophysicist at the Tsunami warning center. "This was a very large earthquake in a part of the world that tends to produce very large tsunamis. We need to walk a line between a false alarm and missing something that’s dangerous and could kill people. Since the science is not exact, we chose to err on the side of not killing people by missing something."

A tsunami warning remained in effect for Russia and Japan.

As the tsunami neared Hawaii, triggered by a massive earthquake in Chile, Hilo International Airport on the big island of Hawaii, which is near the southern coast , was closed, and all crews aboard vessels and on the ground in state ports were ordered to evacuate. A warning siren sounded at 6 a.m. local time, alerting residents to tune into their local television and radio stations for instructions.

"We are counting on the public to follow all the instructions of our emergency personnel," said Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle. "Anyone who is ordering you to evacuate you need to take it seriously. We need you to evacuate in an orderly fashion.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano had been briefed and was monitoring developments from Vancouver, where she is leading a U.S. delegation for the Olympics.

Four Hawaii-based U.S. Coast Guard cutters prepared to get underway to ride out the tsunami at sea, and the service planned to reposition aircraft at low-lying Air Station Barbers Point near Honolulu to be able to respond if big waves hit, officials said.

Lingle declared a state of emergency, a step aimed at making needed resources available, including the National Guard. Several water pumping stations that are in low-lying areas were shut down to prevent equipment from being damaged by flooding.

washingtonpost.com

Continue reading »]]> A huge 8.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Chile early on Saturday killing at least 78 people, toppling buildings and triggering a tsunami threatening the Pacific rim of fire, officials said.

The massive quake plunged much of the Chilean capital, Santiago, into darkness as it snapped power lines and severed communications.

AFP journalists spoke of walls and masonry collapsing while people in pyjamas fled onto the streets.

Television images showed destroyed or heavily damaged buildings and debris-strewn streets.

Residents in the south of the city, which appeared to have borne the brunt of the quake, said roads had crumpled and a bridge had been damaged, as an AFP correspondent said buildings "shook like jelly."

The US Pacific Tsunami warning center issued a "widespread" tsunami warning for all Pacific nations. Related article: Pacific nations on tsunami alert

A partial evacuation of Easter Island has been ordered in Chile in the face of possible big tidal waves, President Michelle Bachelet announced.

She also said two ships with aid had been dispatched to Robinson Crusoe Island, part of the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, which has been affected by a big tidal wave.

Japan’s meteorological agency warned of a tsunami risk across large areas of the Pacific including as far away as the Antarctic, as the Philippines warned low-lying coastal areas to prepare for possible evacuation.

Australia and New Zealand issued tsunami alerts while Russia said it was monitoring the risk.

The tremor struck at 3:34 am local time (0634 GMT) when many Chileans were still in nightclubs partying at the start of the weekend.

It was swiftly followed by a series of aftershocks ranging from 5.6 to 6.9 on the Moment Magnitude Scale.

Bachelet and her officials rushed to their offices to coordinate disaster relief, state television said, as the powerful aftershocks panicked the quake-prone Latin American country.

"With the quake of this magnitude and given its timing, we cannot rule out other casualties," Bachelet said as first reports came in of deaths.

Santiago lies 325 kilometers (200 miles) northeast of the epicenter of the quake, which hit at a depth of 35 kilometers (21.7 miles).

It struck 100 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of the Chilean town of Chillan, the US Geological Survey said, and 115 kilometers (70 miles) northeast of Concepcion, a city of about a million people.

"Sea level readings confirm that a tsunami has been generated which could cause widespread damage," the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

Authorities should take "appropriate action," it added, but said the warning did not apply to the west coast of the United States.

"There is a possibility that tsunami will widely occur in the Pacific Ocean," an official for the Japanese meteorological agency said as Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines also issued warnings.

Asian nations have been on heightened alert ever since a massive 2004 tsunami that killed more than 220,000 people around the Indian Ocean.

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama ordered his government to be prepared to offer support for victims if necessary, Jiji Press reported.

"Swift action should be required," Hatoyama told reporters. "It appears to be fairly sizable. I told ministries concerned to be ready to take measures in case relief assistance is needed."

The European Union said it stood ready to provide immediate and coordinated aid for victims.

US seismologists had initially put the magnitude of the tremor at 8.5 but later adjusted it upwards to 8.8.

Earthquake-prone Chile lies along the Pacific rim of fire and is regularly rocked by quakes, but damage is often limited as they mostly hit in desert regions which are sparsely populated.

In May 1960 the country was ravaged what is now known as Valdivia or Great Chilean Earthquake, which was rated 9.5 on the moment magnitude scale.

The resulting tsunami affected southern Chile, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, reaching as far as eastern New Zealand and southeast Australia.

The estimated death toll from that disaster ranged from over 2,200 to 5,700.

Continue reading »]]>

A tsunami advisory announced shortly after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Ryukyu Islands early Saturday has been canceled, Japan’s Meteorological Agency reported.

There was no tsunami damage "though there may be slight sea level changes from now on," it said, referring to the areas affected by the advisory — the Okinawa Islands, the Amami Islands and the Tokara Islands.

The quake was centered 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep and struck at 5:31 a.m. (3:31 p.m. ET Friday) about 85 kilometers (53 miles) from Okinawa.

The quake was felt on Okinawa, with shaking that lasted about 15 seconds, said Lt. Col. Daniel King of the U.S. Pacific Command. He told CNN that commanders in Japan and Hawaii were trying to get damage and casualty reports from U.S. military stations on Okinawa, but had heard nothing in the immediate aftermath.

About 20,000 U.S. troops — mostly Marines, along with Navy and Air Force personnel — are stationed on eight bases on Okinawa, he said.

Continue reading »]]>

A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake rocked Chile early Saturday, killing at least 78 people and triggering tsunami warnings for the entire Pacific basin.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said she expected the death toll to rise.

Numerous aftershocks — including one of magnitude 6.9 — were felt within hours of the initial quake, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake’s epicenter was located off the coast of Maule, about 200 miles southwest of the capital of Santiago. It struck at 3:34 a.m. (1:34 a.m. ET), when most people were sleeping.

source

Continue reading »]]> Chinese rescue workers searched for dozens of people believed to be trapped by a massive landslide in the southwest city of Chongqing on Saturday, a state-run news agency reported.

Rescuers said about 80 people were buried in debris from the landslide and have almost no chance of survival, Xinhua reported. But rescuers hope to save 27 miners trapped under a mine in the area, the agency reported.

Rescuers pulled out seven injured people on Friday, including four who were seriously hurt.

The accident happened about 3 p.m. Friday at an iron ore mining area in Jiwei Mountain.

A government spokesman said the landslide destroyed 12 rural houses and buried a mining area.

The landslide cut off power and communications in many parts of the town, but 500 rescuers were still searching the area, Xinhua reported.

Massive landslide buries dozens in China

Continue reading »]]> Along the banks of this city, the Red River surpassed its highest level in history Friday morning, forcing the emergency evacuation of one neighborhood before dawn and leading city leaders here, once cheerfully upbeat, to sound far more dire.

“We do not want to give up yet,” Mayor Dennis Walaker of Fargo said late Thursday night after receiving yet another piece of gruesome news. Forecasters now believe the Red River will go right on rising, and by Saturday overtake the record set here more than a century ago by two feet or even more, much higher than anyone here had earlier believed possible.

“We want to go down swinging — if we go down,” the mayor said, as he urged his city to summon the energy to build the dikes that protect it yet another foot higher by Friday night.

“I’m going to be devastated if we lose,” said Mr. Walaker, who had, only a few days ago, expressed optimism, even certainty, that Fargo, a city of 90,000 and North Dakota’s most populous, would be fine.

By Friday morning, some hospitals here had transferred patients to other facilities miles away, and nursing homes had sent residents to relatives’ homes on high ground. Major roads here were closed, to allow trucks carrying more loads of sandbags to reach levees as fast as possible. And after about 100 people, including some residents of a nursing home, in one Fargo neighborhood and a large swath of neighboring Moorhead, Minn., were forced to evacuate Thursday night, officials on Friday ordered residents from about 150 more Fargo homes to leave just after 2 a.m. The authorities said they found a leak in a levee near those homes, and were racing to repair it. Residents, meanwhile, could be seen trudging out by foot, bearing belongings in bone-cold temperatures, local news reports said.

While flooding conditions have threatened much of North Dakota and parts of western Minnesota, and some rural communities are already under water, all eyes on Friday were on this city and on Moorhead, a city of 34,700 just across the Red River. More than a thousand members of the National Guard had been called in to add more sand to the area’s already enormous dikes, but even weather forecasters seemed at a loss to be sure what might come next.

“This is definitely ground zero right now,” said Patrick Slattery, a spokesman for the National Weather Service. “Once you get here, into predictions above the levels we have ever seen before, you’re taking about unbroken ground. Even we don’t know for certain what’s going to happen.”

People here found themselves facing added challenges given the singular dimensions of this flood. Once the river crests on Saturday, it is expected to stay at those swelled, highest levels for several days. Dikes that hold for a few hours may be in trouble in a matter of days, the authorities here say.

The temperature here, too — 10 degrees on Friday morning with a wind chill reported at 4 degree below zero — tested the stamina of thousands of volunteers. It also led some to worry about the condition of the piles sandbags. Would sandbags slide and give way on frozen ground? Would frigid sandbags allow water to flow through rather than holding it back?

In Fargo, a city where residents continued to offer applause at public meetings for their political leaders even as the news grew worse and worse this week, tempers were clearly tested by late Thursday. Kristy Fremstad, who owns rental property in Fargo, pleaded with city officials to add sandbags to the dike near her land.

“We’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting,” she tearfully told city commissioners at an emergency meeting, (also attended by Gov. John Hoeven, Senator Byron L. Dorgan and Representative Earl Pomeroy). “I need some help.”

Schools and businesses were closed. And some people in between the city’s primary dike system and a second set of newly created emergency dikes were advised to evacuate. Volunteers, now days into their work, went right on filling sandbags at the Fargodome all through the night.

Across the bulging river, in Moorhead, residents who had been advised to evacuate found themselves on roads jammed with other cars, (and, in some cases, still covered in snow). The congested streets led some here, including Mayor Walaker, to worry about how a broader evacuation plan, if one were required, would play out here.

Adding to the complications of such a concept, local officials acknowledged, was the fact that no one could be sure where the dikes might break or what roads — given rising waters and falling snow — might be passable.

In some rural areas to the south of Fargo and elsewhere, water had already filled homes. White caps, one law enforcement officer said, could be seen around what had once been farm fields. Rescues were made with boats and helicopters, even as other residents, surrounded on all sides by water, insisted on staying put.

Around Bismarck, the state capital, flooded neighborhoods sat empty as demolition crews battled dangerous ice jams on the Missouri with explosives. Water levels had dropped some there, offering hope.

“Our biggest concern is an ice jam in the river just 10 miles north of Bismarck, which we’re hoping does not dislodge,” said Bill Wocken, that city’s administrator. “An ice jam is kind of like my teenage daughter. Sometimes there is just no way to predict what they’ll do next.”

In Grand Forks, which was devastated by flooding in 1997, two of the three bridges leading in and out of town were already closed. But city officials seemed hopeful that a $409 million Army Corps of Engineers flood protection project, completed two years ago, would save the city from the Red River this time.

“We remain cautious, vigilant and watchful,” said Kevin Dean, a city spokesman.

Fargo Neighborhood Evacuated as Waters Rise

Continue reading »]]> The death toll from Australia’s deadliest bushfires may reach 300, officials said, as police probe whether the blaze in the worst-hit town of Marysville was lit deliberately.

At least 181 people are confirmed dead in the wildfires sweeping through Victoria state and the coroner is prepared for as many as 300 bodies, Police Commissioner Christine Nixon told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“We are going house by house, street by street to search for bodies,” Nixon told the ABC’s Lateline program yesterday. Authorities believe “there are clearly more people who have died in this fire.”

The bushfires destroyed four major towns and dozens of hamlets, razing more than 1,000 houses and leaving 4,200 people homeless, according to the Country Fire Authority. As many as 100 of the 500 residents of Marysville, a town 60 kilometers (30 miles) northeast of the state capital, Melbourne, may have died and authorities view that fire as suspicious, Nixon said.

“The direction it came from, the pace it came with, all of those things are a part of the way we investigate a fire,” Nixon told the ABC. “Part of the concerns about Marysville is that it was just unexplained.”

Road blocks are set up around the town to prevent anyone except authorities from entering. Bodies are still being removed from buildings and being identified, Victorian Premier John Brumby said yesterday.

Record High Temperatures

Two weeks of record high temperatures, that reached 46.4 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit) in Melbourne, and hot northerly gales across southeast Australia made conditions over the weekend worse than in February 1983, when 75 people in Victoria and neighboring South Australia died in what are known as the Ash Wednesday fires.

Thirty blazes are still burning across Victoria, with firefighters tackling three major fronts, the CFA said. Milder weather is allowing authorities to build so-called containment lines — bulldozing away scrub and forest — to slow the progress of the fires.

Victorian police believe fires in the Churchill area, southeast of Melbourne, were deliberately lit and the arson squad is investigating another 173 sites, CFA Chief Fire Officer Russell Rees said earlier this week.

Two people are “assisting police” in their inquiries in relation to fires in Yea and Seymour, Victoria Police said in a statement today.

People found guilty of arson can expect to be jailed for 25 years, the same penalty that applies to a murder conviction in Victoria, Brumby said this week.

Memorial Service

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s office said the federal government is planning a memorial service for the bushfire victims. “The whole nation stands with Victoria during this time of national tragedy,” it said in a statement.

The Australian Red Cross said its bushfire appeal has raised A$50 million ($32 million).

More than 450,000 hectares (1.1 million acres) of land has been destroyed, according to the CFA. The total damage of the blazes may be more than A$2 billion, Standard & Poor’s said.

Bloomberg.com: Australia & New Zealand

Continue reading »]]> Snow and harsh winter conditions were causing disruption across the UK today, with some councils warning that salt and grit supplies were running low.

Further problems were expected for public transport, schools and businesses with severe weather warnings in place in south Wales, north Devon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire today as snow continued to fall.

Forecasters said the worst of the weather was likely to be in the Midlands with as much as 10cm (4in) of snow, however the south and west of England and Wales ground to a halt today after waking up to their heaviest falls of snow this week.

The M4, particularly around Bristol and Swindon, the M5 and the M1 in the south Midlands were badly affected. Runways at Luton and East Midlands airports were closed, there were bus and train cancellations in Bristol and drivers were stranded in snow in the Cotswolds.

Thousands of pupils were told to stay at home again today, with schools in Wales, the Midlands, the West Country and counties just north of London worst affected. More than 600 schools closed in Wales, 300 in the Cotswolds and a quarter of all schools in Birmingham. More than 200 schools have now been closed in Aberdeenshire and rural counties in north-east Scotland, and the eastern Highlands in the Cairngorms.

In Northern Ireland 32 schools were closed.

Some councils are becoming increasingly worried about stocks of salt and have begun to limit its use to major roads. Britain’s biggest salt supplier, the Cheshire-based Salt Union, said staff were working round the clock but still could not meet demand.

“We have been operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week since the beginning of January and are extracting 30m kilograms a week, but the unexpected and unusual weather means that even working at this level, demand is outstripping supply,” the firm said.

Cleveland Potash, the Highways Agency’s second supplier, said it had arranged for 40,000 tonnes of salt to be imported from its sister mine in Spain to meet the increased demand.

The agency – which is responsible for England’s motorways and A-roads – said it was confident it had enough salt in its depots to keep routes ice-free.

Worcestershire county council said it had “insufficient salt” to clear the roads.

Gloucestershire county council has just over 850 tonnes left. “We estimate there is enough for the next two weeks, based on current forecast and restricting the network,” said a council spokesman.

Hertfordshire county council, one of the councils that has admitted stocks are running low, said it was seeking additional supplies from abroad. Other councils saving their salt for main roads include Ceredigion in Wales, which said Salt Union had told it not to expect further deliveries.

Two walkers have died in two days after both ventured out in icy conditions in the Lake District. Cumbria police said one body, believed to be that of a missing 60-year-old man, had been found today below Climber’s Traverse on Bowfell. He has not yet been formally identified. Another man in his 60s who fell 100 metres at Pavey Ark in Great Langdale yesterday died after being airlifted to hospital, police said.

All flights to and from Luton airport were halted this morning after the volume of snow that fell overnight took staff by surprise. There were heavy delays on the approach roads to the airport, with one motorist saying it took him four hours to move 20 yards.

An airport spokeswoman said staff had been trying to clear the snow since 3am. “The sheer volume of snow that came down was not expected,” she said.

George Best airport in Belfast was shut for four hours this morning and 10 flights were cancelled.

In the Highlands and north-east Scotland, a number of routes have been closed after up to eight inches of snow fell overnight, worsening the extremely difficult driving conditions.

The main road to Inverness and the Highlands, the A9, was closed between Aviemore and Inverness, while the A96 was shut between Keith and Inverurie, with other routes shut by snow, accidents and fallen trees. Police in Aberdeen warned of severe congestion in the city, while Aberdeen airport’s runway was closed.

The train operator First Great Western said services between London and south Wales and Bristol were subject to delays. Chiltern Railways said delays of up to 30 minutes could be expected on all routes to and from London Marylebone during the morning peak hours, while Aylesbury Vale Parkway station was closed.

CrossCountry reported similar half-hour delays on all routes via Birmingham New Street during the morning peak hours. Services between Inverness and Aberdeen were subject to alterations and cancellations and customers were “strongly advised” not to attempt to travel.

Virgin Trains services on all routes to and from London Euston were subject to delays of up to 30 minutes due to speed restrictions.

Wrexham & Shropshire railways reported delays of up to 30 minutes on all routes to and from London Marylebone during the morning peak hours.

Commuter services in London have largely returned to normal. A Transport for London spokeswoman said it was “business as usual” and any disruption to trains, tubes and buses was not weather-related.

Saturday is expected to be cold but sunny in inland areas and Sunday could bring more sleet and snow.

Snowy weather’s latest wave brings delay and disruption | UK news | guardian.co.uk

Continue reading »]]> The heavy snow that disrupted the lives and businesses of millions of people this week will continue to cause problems as treacherous weather moves across the country, forecasters have warned.

Northern Scotland, Wales and south-western parts of England and the south coast are at the greatest risk of further snow later in the week, according to the Met Office. Conditions in the areas worst hit by Monday’s snow – the most widespread in the UK for 18 years – are likely to remain dangerous as the roads turn icy with a drop in temperature.

The Highways Agency said most big roads and motorways were open and clear yesterday but advised postponing all but essential journeys in the worst-affected areas.

The country’s transport system began to get back to normal today. In London there was a good service on all underground lines and buses were running, though some were diverted away from icy roads. A Transport for London spokesperson said it was “business as usual”.

BAA said it expected to operate a “near-normal service” at airports up and down the country today. However, at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports, “some flights may be subject to delay or cancellation following the knock-on effect of adverse weather conditions in England on Monday”. Passengers have been advised to contact their airline for further information.

The National Rail website says there may still be some delays on First Great Western, Southern and Southeastern trains. A small number of trains have been cancelled.

Helen Chivers, a forecaster for the Met Office, said that although much of Britain would have a brighter day today, showers could be expected, especially in western areas, with a wintry mix of rain and sleet or snow.

The lowest recorded temperature yesterday morning was minus 10.1C (13.8F) in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. The most snow, 31cm (12in), was recorded in Epsom, Surrey, as day broke.

The West Country and Wales bore the brunt of yesterday’s chaos. Lorries ground to a halt on hilly stretches in Cornwall and motorists abandoned cars stuck in drifts.

Hospitals cancelled outpatient appointments, and home help for hundreds of elderly people was halted because the roads were judged too dangerous. Refuse collections were scrapped.

There was consolation for winter sports enthusiasts. Skiers were spotted in Truro and in Hayle, near St Ives, and Horsforth Hall park on the edge of Leeds unexpectedly hosted its first langlauf skiing event, between the snowmen and the sledges. “We’ve been here before,” said Martin Appleby, of the Yorkshire Dales Cross Country Ski Club, “but only for sessions on roller blades round the cycling track.”

First buses, which covers south and west Wales, said all its vehicles were off the road. Police in Wales warned that minor roads, especially those over high ground, were especially hazardous. The A465 at Aberdulais, south Wales, was described as treacherous after a lorry came off the road at a roundabout in the early hours.

One motorist died at Sandy Bridge, Llanelli, on Monday evening, but police believe he died of natural causes.

Yorkshire and the north-east breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after predictions of further heavy snow proved wide of the mark. Weather patterns steered the worst of the downfall away to the north-west, affecting mainly sheep and scattered farms on the high Pennines.

Among them was Stott Hall Farm, a well-known smallholding on Moss Mire moor between the carriageways of the M62, where all-night gritting kept traffic flowing throughout the day.

The higher and narrower A66 between Teesside and Penrith, which was the only major trans-Pennine route to be closed on Monday, reopened after snowploughs from both east and west forced a way through.

Train services on the east coast mainline struggled back towards the normal half-hourly service between King’s Cross in London and the north of England and Scotland, but there were frequent hiccups and delays.

Among the passengers waiting at King’s Cross was 61-year-old Carol Hughes, who had had to be put up in London overnight on Monday.

“There were hardly any trains and no buses, so we just gave up. They’re allowing us to use our original tickets, but one train’s already been cancelled,” she said. “We’re getting another soon, but I think it’s mad in this day and age that we come to a standstill in a city like London. In Sheffield we experience much worse weather but things still move.”

The actor Julia Roberts was among hundreds of passengers stranded at Manchester airport because of the heavy snow gripping the south. Her flight from India to Gatwick was one of 13 diverted from airports in the south, which closed or restricted services.

At Heathrow yesterday morning thousands of passengers had spent an uncomfortable night spent on the floor. The airport had shut down because of the snow and about 800 flights were cancelled. Yesterday, 74 inbound flights and 76 departures were cancelled.

At Gatwick, just six flights were cancelled, and Stansted was operating a normal schedule, said the airports operator BAA. The cross-Channel train service Eurostar also reported cancellations and delays.

Scotland, unusually, had escaped the worst of the weather, but more than 270 flights were cancelled at Scottish airports on Monday as flights to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen suffered a knock-on effect from closed airports further south. Yesterday, 19 flights to and from the three Scottish cities were cancelled, said BAA.

Monday saw the heaviest snowfall to hit the UK since 1991. The weather has been blamed for the deaths of two brothers on Snowdon on Monday. Christopher McCallion, 29, and his brother James, 35, are understood to have been training for endurance events when they fell about 330m in freezing conditions from a notorious blackspot on the mountain’s west side, at Clogwyn Coch.

More snow, ice and disruption on the way for Britain | UK news | guardian.co.uk