Editing Winter of Discontent (section)

==Onset of severe winter weather==

A mild autumn turned cold on the morning of 25 November when temperatures recorded at [[Heathrow Airport]] dropped from {{convert|14|°C}} to {{convert|0|°C}} overnight, with some snowflakes. Throughout most of the following month, the cold lingered, only for temperatures to rise well above {{convert|10|°C}} around Christmas. On 30 December, the temperature dropped again, along with rain that soon turned to snow; the next day 1978 ended with Heathrow recording a high of only {{convert|-3|°C}} amid steady snowfall.<ref name="The British and their weather">{{cite book |last1=Nobbs |first1=Patrick |title=The Story of the British and Their Weather: From Frost Fairs to Indian Summers |date=2015 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Ltd. |isbn=978-1-4456-4461-5 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wUp4BgAAQBAJ&pg=PT92 |access-date=20 April 2020 |chapter=9; The Winter of Discontent 1978–79}}</ref>

The effects were more severe outside of London. [[Ilfracombe]] and other towns in [[North Devon]] could only be reached by helicopter as many roads could not be adequately cleared. The [[Royal Automobile Club]] blamed local councils, who in turn pointed to unresolved issues with their unions and staff shortages; even around London local authorities were only able to clear main roads. Two Scottish trains near [[Stirling]] were stuck in the snow, leaving 300 passengers stranded; rail transport difficulties were exacerbated elsewhere in the country by a strike. Tanker drivers had also gone on strike in some areas from 18 December, causing some homeowners to have difficulties keeping their homes heated and limiting petrol supplies. Only three [[English Football League|League]] football matches could take place over the [[New Year's Day|New Year's]] holiday, and all rugby contests were cancelled. Three men drowned after falling through the ice on the [[Hampstead Heath]] pond in London.<ref name="The British and their weather" />