The Beast in the East continued to wreak havoc across Huddersfield on Thursday.
Motorists have been trapped on the eastbound carriageway of the M62 between J21-22 since 10am yesterday, after a vehicle fire.
The snow is having a severe impact on all roads around the town and into the Pennines, with breakdowns and crashes only making matters worse.
And the snow is expected to continue into tomorrow, with weather warnings lasting until Saturday.
You can see our continued updates for today (Friday) here.
Here are some of our other weather related stories:
- Mayhem on M62 as drivers trapped on closed motorway for more than SEVEN hours
- Incredible video shows Highways workers and police trying to get gridlocked traffic going on M62
- Highways England 4x4 bursts into flames on M62
- Binmen drafted in to help with gritting operation across Kirklees
- Driving in snow is sometimes illegal and will invalidate your car insurance
- School closures across Kirklees and Calderdale for Thursday 1 March
- Download our app to get news on the go and push notifications for the latest breaking stories here .
If there's something you've noticed and want us to check out then please feel free to get in touch - you can call us on 01484 437712, email editorial@examiner.co.uk or tweet @Examiner. You can also find us on social media here .
Key Events
Latest updates from Highways England
Highways England has just tweeted this in response to a query from a driver about whether people will be stuck all night.
We’re doing everything in our power to get the road reopened as soon as possible but this is a significant challenge with the weather and number of incidents
Westbound camera at J22
The conditions look treacherous. High winds have also been reported.
LIve traffic map from Google
This is a live traffic map of the area. The dark coloured area shows the closure. Not good.
M62 closed in both directions
Bad news. The M62 has been closed on both directions. We’re running a dedicated blog. Click here for M62 updates.
Overturned car westbound on M62
Yet more problems on the M62 - this time it’s heading towards Manchester.
One lane is closed and thre are long delays due to an overturned vehicle from J22 (Rishworth Moor) to J21 (Milnrow). Traffic is queueing back to J23.
Huddersfield heroes going the extra mile to get to work
There are some amazing people out there.
Check these stories out.
Not to mention Kevin Marshall!
Caroline Michelle messaged us on Facebook to say: “This man came to my aid this morning a total stranger. I put out a plea on Facebook Holmfirth page as I needed to get to work to look after an elderly lady. He answered picked me up took me to her boat and then came back later to take me me again. Iv also heard he had done it again for two district nurses he needs and deserves a mention heart of gold.
Huddersfield and Leeds Transpennine services running
TPE is running all its rail services between Huddersfield and Leeds.
Severe weather update from Kirklees Council
Kirklees Council has published a lengthy update on its website for people concerned about council services. Here it is in full:
Changes to services due to snow
With the current bad weather we have had to make changes to services, putting more people on front line work working in communities and reducing or closing some others.
Our aim is to help keep both residents and staff safe by prioritising our work, and work with our partners to limit how much people need to travel whilst making sure we can continue to look after the most vulnerable people.
Some staff haven’t been able to get in to work, so we’ve made sure those that have are working where they are most needed.
Many of our staff are out clearing and gritting – helping to keep roads, pavements and town centres accessible.
Others are making sure that health and support staff can get to vulnerable children and adults to keep them safe, and everyone else is doing their best to keep remaining services open and keep you informed.
We are working with our partners in housing, health and social care to make sure we continue to deliver vital services. We would also ask that you help by checking in on elderly or vulnerable neighbours, and supporting people in your local area to stay well.
We’d like to thank you for your patience and understanding, please take care and stay warm.
No bin collections today (Thursday)
Due to the current weather conditions and the impact they are having on the roads, we have suspended household waste and recycling collections today. We will make arrangements to collect the bins missed as a result as soon as practically possible.
We are closely monitoring the weather forecast for tomorrow (Friday), and weather permitting we will have some teams out emptying missed bins. We will know better where we are working in the morning and will share that information as soon as we have it.
Unfortunately with the long-term forecast as it is, we may not get to everyone before their next collection – If we don’t empty your bin before we’ll take one or two extra bags of waste if they are left by your bin.
Looking after people who are homeless
We are continuing to support the most vulnerable to find housing – our severe weather protocol (SWEP) is active, and our customer service centres and phone lines are open for people to contact us. Pre-booked non-urgent appointments are being cancelled and rearranged.
Emergency housing repairs only
Due to the bad weather, KNH will only be attending emergency repair appointments today. We will be contacting people who have pre-booked appointments to rearrange.
Emergencies are classed as anything that causes an immediate threat to your health and safety or the structure of your home. Council/KNH tenants with an emergency housing repair can call 01484 414 850.
Adult social care day services closed
To ensure staff and service users do not take unnecessary risks by travelling, and to allow staff to support people receiving residential and home care we are closing our Day Opportunities Services today.
Playing fields closed this weekend
All our parks teams are busy clearing snow and gritting, and as there is so much snow on the ground we’ve made the decision to close all our sports pitches this weekend.
Gritting and snow clearing
Our crews have been working pretty much non-stop since Wednesday morning in what have been tough conditions.
We used over 700t of grit yesterday and over 15,000t so far this season. Each priority route was treated at least 4 times yesterday, with areas on higher ground getting more as we have tried to keep routes open.
We gritted again at 5am and all vehicles have stayed out on their routes to keep roads clear, they will continue to do this for the rest of the day.
There are an additional 4 gritting vehicles out helping where required as well as 8 tractor ploughs and 2 JCBs.
Road Closures
• A6024 Holme Moss and A640 New Hey Road are closed
• Wessenden Head Road is closed from just above Meltham to its junction with the A635
• Severe delays on M62
• A635 is passable with care as is A62 Manchester Rd
There is also a lot of drifting snow making smaller local access roads on high ground impassable. We have tractor plough’s and JCB’s out trying to clear these as much as possible.
Please take care if you are out on the roads, and consider taking an emergency kit with you.
Local Plan hearings postponed
Local Plan hearings today and tomorrow are postponed.
Town Halls
Huddersfield and Dewsbury Town Halls are open until 5pm. Dewsbury Register office closed at 1pm but will reopen tomorrow as normal. If you wish to contact the Registration Service please call 01484 221030.
If you are planning to attend an event at our town halls within the next few days please check with the venue before travelling to avoid disappointment.
Libraries
Cleckheaton Library -closed
Batley Library – closed
Birstall Library – closed
Heckmondwike Library – closed
Slaithwaite Library – closed
Golcar Library – closed
Greenwood Centre – closed.
Holmfirth library – closing at 3pm
Almondbury library – closing at 5pm
Lindley library – closing at 5pm
Huddersfield Library – closing at 5pm
Dewsbury Library – closing at 5pm.
The home library service has been suspended and service users have been contacted.
Traffic barely moving on the M62 at Outlane
Traffic almost at a standstill westbound on the M62 near Outlane. Severe delays due to snow remain in place between Ainley Top (J24) and Milnrow (J21).
Most trains from Huddersfield delayed or cancelled
The live departures board at Huddersfield Railway Station does not make pleasant reading for any would-be travellers. Almost all trains are delayed or cancelled and National Rail say all services from and to Leeds and Wakefield are currently suspended because of the snow and ice.
Advice on the National Rail website reads: “Rail replacement transport is being recruited where possible to run in lieu of cancelled services but unfortunately as a result of the snow and ice, some roads are also too dangerous to run rail replacement transport.
“Tickets are being accepted on all other train operating companies.”
Huddersfield town centre eerily quiet
There’s not a lot going on in town. Our reporter Robert Sutcliffe captured this video around John William street and says dozens of businesses are shut or closing early.
Snow blown across the A629
The snow might have taken a breather but the piles of powder at High Flatts and Birdsedge are being whipped up and blown across the main road in to Huddersfield.
Forecast for rush hour
Amber warnings are in place today and tomorrow. You can see our hourly forecast here.
Over rush hour, we’re predicted to see temperatures on -2°C to -3°C. Only a 20% chance of snow, and it appears to be unlikely we’ll see anymore throughout the night, thank heavens!
Clarification on road closures
Lots of panicked people getting in touch with us asking about road closures. Sadly, we don’t have magical powers to enable us to be everywhere but we can check our travel service regularly and let you know what they are saying.
Here are the confirmed road closures for the area:
- Holme Moss Road (A6024) is closed between Greenfield Road and the Woodhead Pass
- Holmfirth Road (A635) over Saddleworth Moor is closed between Woodhead Road, Upperthong, and Chew Valley Road, Greenfield
- Huddersfield Road (A640) in Denshaw, Oldham, is closed between the Denshaw crossroads and Saddleworth Road leading to junction 22 on the M62
- The M62 remains closed eastbound at junction 21 with delays back to junction 16 due to ploughing and a vehicle fire earlier - advice is to avoid the motorway as motorists have reported being at standstill for as long as seven hours. Highways England are hoping to release traffic as soon as possible
If you know of any other road closures, please contact us at @Examiner, on our Facebook page or via email at editorial@examiner.co.uk.
WATCH: Playful pups try not to drown in knee deep snow drift
This is the most adorable video you’ll watch all day.
Dale Longley was walking his dogs in Kirkheaton football field when he captured the sweet moment both fell in over their heads. The two pooches then jump up and down in bemusement at the freezing cold powdery stuff...
Pretty images of Huddersfield in the snow
Local historian Frank Grombir sent us this lovely collage of Huddersfield statues and scenery.
Snow plough abandoned up at Castle Hill
It seems the blizzard atop Castle Hill was just too much to handle for this snow plough.
One of our readers sent this video in showing the extent of the conditions up there. And picnic weather it is not.
Help for the ambulance stuck in snow
One of our readers gave paramedics a helping hand earlier this morning. Great work!
GALLERY: Huddersfield in the snow
Here are some of the pictures showcasing our town and local scenery in the wintry weather.
Latest on the M62
The motorway is basically one long car park today.
Eastbound, there have been severe delays following an earlier closure due to a vehicle fire between junctions 21 and 22. You can see this from the deserted eastbound side in the pictures taken at Outlane just ahead of where the carriage was closed. Congestion is reportedly all that way back to junction 15 for the M60.
Traffic is stop start westbound around junctions 24 to 21.
Kirklees reassures we ARE gritting roads
Just because you can’t see it on the roads, doesn’t mean it’s not there!
