Traffic mayhem and comedians stuck on the runway – another day of snow chaos in Manchester

Manchester: This morning, Wythenshawe was a winter wonderland, but not in a good way. Kids were out throwing snowballs, but the snow caused chaos everywhere.

After a surprise snowstorm hit, the town center was blanketed in white. Wythenshawe and other parts of south Manchester really got hit hard, leading to travel issues and schools shutting down.

Manchester Airport had to close its runways for over an hour because of the heavy snowfall. Comedian Jason Manford was one of the many stuck in the mess when everything came to a standstill around 9 am.

Once the runways reopened, the airport warned that delays were still possible. Passengers were advised to check with their airlines since at least 14 departures and five arrivals were canceled.

Roads across the region were a nightmare too, with some becoming impassable due to the snow. Traffic jams were everywhere, especially when crossing buttons froze in the freezing temperatures.

Even though the cold snap has been hanging around, the snow caught a lot of folks off guard. Sandra Molloy, out shopping, said she was shocked when she woke up to the winter scene.

But not everyone was complaining. After getting out of school early, little Lyla and her brother Louis had a blast sledding. Their mom, Laura, said it was fun until one of the sledges broke.

Some schools stayed open, but many in Wythenshawe had to close. Laura mentioned that her partner’s usual seven-minute drive took 35 minutes this morning because of the snow.

Lincoln and Lennon Usher were excited to play in the snow, planning to build a snowman with their cousins. Their mom, Rebecca, was happy to see some snow after years without it.

But for local businesses, the snow was a bummer. Gary Walker, who runs a shoe repair shop, said it had been quiet all week. The snow kept people indoors unless they really needed to go out.

Ben Corrie, working his market stall, agreed that the weather kept customers away. He noticed how quickly the snow came down, turning from light to heavy in no time.

Theo Jones, working nearby, said it was so cold he could barely feel his toes. He even slipped on the ice when he stepped outside. It felt like a ghost town with hardly anyone out and about.

A yellow weather warning for ice is in effect for parts of Greater Manchester overnight. This warning started at 4 pm and will last until 10 am tomorrow, covering areas like Wigan, Salford, and Trafford.

Temperatures are expected to rise over the weekend, but the UK Health Security Agency has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday. They warned that the cold could lead to more health issues, especially for vulnerable people.

Dr. Agostinho Sousa from the UKHSA emphasized the importance of checking in on those who might be at risk due to the cold, like the elderly or those with health conditions.