The beast from the east and storm Emma

[Kiwifruit]

Jeez that puts it all in perspective Andre, I'm going slightly stir crazy working from home all week but nothing life threatening!

Have you finished your pizza ? 

[Andre]

Seth, it's expensive to be prepared for the unusual. Best is to stay hunkered down till it's over. Not everyone can though.

Snow tires aren't the alpha& omega as Dave's post shows.

We've got the deepest snow I've seen in many years! Even the Jeep has struggled with it, although the 4 wheel drive gives me an advantage in forward traction steering and stopping are an entirely different story especially on any downward slopes as the tyre tread just clogs up with compacted snow which freezes 

We call them winter tires. There main advantage is that they are softer at low temps. Summer tires' rubber turns very hard amd have no grip at these temps. Winter tires have also more profile in the treads which helps dissipate water. They are ok when there is little snow only.

No, in Germany you are not required by law to have winter tires fitted during a certain time period. However you have to have them fitted when the weather condition demands (situational requirement) it. Motorcycle are exempt from this! As are wheelchairs Lots of other exemptions too. But there are stipulations for the exemptions. If you don't have them fitted when the situation demands it you are limited to 50 km/h which excludes you from using the Autobahn). You have to determine before you take off if it is absolutely necessary and ensure that there is no other mode of transportation available.

Fines are 60 € or 80 € if you become an obstacle If you get into an accident your insurance will jump on it  and deny/reduce your claim (who would have thought otherwise).

[seth]

I have winter tyres on my golf make a big difference but not in deep snow or on ice.
I'll be keeping out the way until it's passed as I don't need to go anywhere my work will be there when we go back as most of it involves travelling around and that's not possible anyway .

[Andre]

[Notty]

I put all season tyres on when i bought my 4 wheel drive VW Tiguan 4 years ago as I was travelling to Ypres to visit the war graves in November and as Andre says you get fined if the tyres haven't got a ice symbol on the side wall - I had to order the tyres from Germany cos they didn't sell my size in the UK -  - first time they have  seen snow in 60K until today ! just been out and TBH steering and braking is not that good so it will stay in the drive for the next few days - and anticlimax but at my age used to it ! lol 

[Mick_J]

It's very cold for this time of year and there is a fair bit of snow around which is a bit inconvenient and if people used their brains not too dangerous but the worst bit will be the whinging gits complaining that we don't have enough snow ploughs and snow clearing equipment.  We don't get this every year, or even every 5 years to justify having car parks full of unused snow and ice clearing equipment, Finland, Scandinavia, Norway and other places north probably do.  It won't be long before it all starts kicking off.

[Notty]

Great news - Boss says we can go home when the snow reaches the windowsill - bad news is we are on the third floor !! 

[froudy]

Shit's going to hit the fan here soon..
We've already got 2" of the white stuff

[gsxbarmy]

I see BBC are saying the Red Alert starts at 15:00 today and basically you should get home before then

[Notty]

I see BBC are saying the Red Alert starts at 15:00 today and basically you should get home before then

My daughters wife had to get to Reading to catch train back to Cardiff as high speed trains stopping at Reading as they cant get to paddington ! seems my 4x4 will be out later 

[froudy]

I see BBC are saying the Red Alert starts at 15:00 today and basically you should get home before then

I'm off shift until next Wed night...
That was lucky 

[Mister Fishfinger]

It's very cold for this time of year and there is a fair bit of snow around which is a bit inconvenient and if people used their brains not too dangerous but the worst bit will be the whinging gits complaining that we don't have enough snow ploughs and snow clearing equipment.  We don't get this every year, or even every 5 years to justify having car parks full of unused snow and ice clearing equipment, Finland, Scandinavia, Norway and other places north probably do.  It won't be long before it all starts kicking off.

I wish I could give this more than 1 "like". I couldn't agree more. Last time we had anything like this in my area was 2012.

Whenever I hear people complaining about how Britain comes to a stop when it snows, I ask them how much extra council tax they'd be willing to pay to cover it. or which hospitals we should close.

[Andre]

And then the snow plows won't get through because someone is blocking the road with their car.

[froudy]

And then the snow plows won't get through because someone is blocking the road with their car.

Police are advising motorists not to go out unless absolutely necessary because the roads are blocked by television crews telling us it's snowing

[Mick_J]

But what if I need a loaf of bread for a chip butty?