Coldwaves and snow Sample Clauses

Coldwaves and snow. Snow has often caused disruptions to public transport in London (LCCP, 2009). According to one news broadcaster, the snowfall in 2009 was estimated to cost the economy around GBP 3bn (EUR 3.1bn) (CNN, 2009). Every fifth worker took a day off work and thousands of schools in the south of England were closed. The loss in productivity was estimated to be GBP 1bn (EUR 1.03bn). There were travel disruptions on London buses, eight separate tube lines and trains (Xxxxxx et al., 2009). Gatwick and London City airports were also affected. The websites of National Rail, South West Trains and Transport for London crashed due to the high number of visitors. Snowfall in January 2007 increased journey times on the London Underground (LCCP, 2009). Low temperatures on the 4th of March 2005 led to travel disruptions to London’s road, rail, tube and air transport networks, affected green spaces, and led to the closure of schools. The snowfall in January 2003 led to two to three hour travel delays for tens of thousands of commuters. The Victoria and Waterloo and City line were the only Underground lines running and sections of the M25 outer London orbital motorway and the M11 London to Cambridge motorway were blocked, with motorists and lorries stranded overnight. Snow and ice at airports caused air traffic delays.

Coldwaves and snow. Snowfall results in costs of snow ploughing operations, transport disruptions and accidents, as well as closure of schools (City of New York, 2013). Freezing temperatures can cause frostbite and hypothermia, especially in the more vulnerable population, such as the elderly. The city has also issued warnings about using stoves and ovens to heat homes, which can result in fires and carbon monoxide exposure (NYC Severe Weather, 2014). Past events include a blizzard in December 2010, when more than 510mm of snow fell in the city, causing major travel disruptions as airports and rail shut down across the city and Long Island (New York City Office of Emergency Management, 2013). Drivers who got stuck in the snow abandoned their vehicles, creating further difficulties for the snow ploughs to clear accumulating snow. A snowstorm in February 2006 caused snowfall of 680mm over a period of 16 hours (New York City Office of Emergency Management, 2013). The city deployed 2,500 workers to cover 12 hour shifts removing snow, airport and rail services were cancelled, the subway experienced extensive delays and New York City’s Bus service was running at 50% capacity. In February 2003 almost 600mm of snowfall covered the city (New York City Office of Emergency Management, 2013). 42 lives were claimed nationwide, with two attributed to the metropolitan area of New York City- one due to carbon monoxide poisoning while a man was warming up his car, and the other due to a collapsing roof from the weight of the snow. The estimated cost to the city for this event is quoted as USD 20m (EUR 18.6m).