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18/01/13 Snow pics - Burton, BurtonTraffic problems with traffic trying to getting up and down Melbourne Ave in Winshill after the road snowed over.HOMEOWNERS and motorists are being urged to beware so-called ‘heart attack snow’ that is expected to fall across Burton and South Derbyshire tonight and tomorrow.
Newhall Weather Station said it was ‘very likely’ the area would be hit by snow from clouds that had blown across the Atlantic Ocean from North America.
A spokesman said the snow would be so-called ‘heart attack snow’ — as it has been labelled by US media — because of its heavy, wet consistency that makes it very hard work to shovel.
“It is looking very likely we will have snow,” the spokesman said. “We have been expecting it for the last couple of weeks. It will probably be a big dollop.
“They had it first in America — the horrible, wet, sticky kind.
“It has crossed over the Atlantic. The Americans called it ‘heart-attack snow’ because it’s that deep and heavy to shovel away that anyone who isn’t fit enough could have a heart attack.” So far, the coldest temperature recorded this month was on the morning of March 14 when thermometers dipped to minus 4.6 degrees centigrade. The warmest point of March so far was recorded later that day when it peaked at 8.7 degrees.
The Newhall Weather Station spokesman added: “The snow could arrive on Friday night or on Saturday. It has been threatening to fall since Monday but it’s looking like it will now arrive.
“There was a flurry earlier this week but it has been quite mild otherwise, apart from a slight north-easterly wind.
“Now though, the barometer is dropping.
“Possibly within the next 24 to 48 hours, we’ll see snow start to arrive from over the Atlantic.” But the snow is not expected to last for more than a couple of days.
Meanwhile Rosliston Weather Centre said snow looked less certain: “It looks (to be) much colder again (this weekend), with easterly winds possibly biting back.
“That could mean wintry showers after a frosty start, feeling colder still in the wind. Temperatures may not rise above two degrees. A very frosty start seems likely and then (we will see) mostly cold and dry weather.”
