Drivers faced a night of misery on the A42 as heavy snowfall from Storm Goretti brought the major route to a standstill, leaving some motorists trapped in their vehicles for hours.
Major Route Brought to a Halt
The A42 southbound is currently closed between Junction 14 at Tonge and Junction 13 at Ashby-De-La-Zouch. The closure was enforced by National Highways after numerous vehicles became stuck and required assistance due to the treacherous conditions.
Traffic officers are at the scene and gritting lorries are en route to help clear the road and aid stranded motorists. Official estimates warn of delays of up to 60 minutes on approaches to the affected area.
Social Media Reports of Lengthy Ordeal
However, accounts from drivers on the ground suggest the reality has been far worse than the official hour-long estimate. Taking to social media, one user on X reported: "Been sitting here for four hours so far." Another motorist confirmed they had been at a complete standstill for two hours.
The incident on this key route linking the West Midlands and Leicestershire is part of widespread chaos caused by Storm Goretti. The storm has led to school closures, widespread power cuts, and significant disruption across the UK's transport networks.
Nationwide Transport Network in Turmoil
The impact extends far beyond the A42. National Rail has warned that railway services across England, Wales, and Scotland could face delays until Friday evening. In Cornwall, train services were halted from 6pm on Thursday.
Air travel has also been severely affected. Birmingham Airport suspended all operations from 9pm on Thursday due to substantial snowfall on its runways.
The Met Office has issued continued weather warnings for snow, wind, rain, and ice across the country, forecasting further "disruption and dangerous travelling conditions." Chief forecaster Neil Armstrong stated that Storm Goretti is a "multi-hazard event," with significant snow impacts expected in parts of Wales and the Midlands.
Snowfall accumulations could reach up to 30cm in the worst-hit regions, with around 15cm forecast more widely across areas under warning.
