News / In brief – 6 February 2010
More wintry weather
WINTER is not over yet, but there are no signs – at the moment – for an intense spell of cold weather, according to Fair Isle weather man Dave Wheeler.
Yesterday (Friday), independent forecasters British Weather Services said that as of next week “the UK will once again be plunged into a protracted period of icy chaos”.
Senior risk meteorologist Jim Dale said “Another week to 10 days of ice and snow is on the cards and within that period we will be seeing temperatures plummet to as low as -12 deg C in places, along with the return of disruptive snow in many areas”.
But Mr Wheeler said while the weather was to turn colder again, it is very difficult to forecast the weather for any longer period of time.
“Winter is not over yet, and by Sunday we will see cooler air coming in from the northeast with wintry showers by Tuesday. But there is no sign of a blast yet – although I would not rule it out,” he said.
Fire station refurbishment
A MAJOR investment in Shetland’s small fire stations has been announced by the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service.
Fire stations in Unst, Whalsay and Scalloway are all to receive an upgrade in the next 12 months.
A spokesman said that around £500,000 was being spent on purchasing a redundant building at Baltasound’s Hagdale industrial estate and converting it. The building could be operational by April.
Whalsay is to follow in the autumn with Scalloway coming in by the end of the year.
The spokesman said that a lot of the fire stations in Shetland were below standard and a decision had been taken to direct resources into the islands this year.
Help for Haiti
SHETLAND Rotary Club has given three shelter boxes to the people of Haiti following the devastating earthquake, last month.
Each shelter box kit contains a 10-person tent, a water purification system and other survival necessities.
About 2,000 shelter boxes – enough to assist 20,000 people – are already in Haiti and another 3,000 are due within a week.
Local Rotary Club president Silvija Crook said the organisation hoped to be in a position to provide further shelter boxes from its charities fund, “which the people of Shetland have so generously supported over the years”.
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