Oh for goodness sake! Its just a bit of snow!!

We're always surprised by weird weather. Like snow in winter or sun in summer.

hi wizzywig well now we had at least six to eight inches of guess what sunshine,its about seventy out now,was only forty this morning. no snow here nor rain either. but nice weather once the sun warmed up every thing. must be why so many people have to live here now and mess up the cost of living more than it already easy. lol. Ca. has become a very expensive place to live in in spite of the climate,or maybe because of it.

Hi Wizzywig, No it is not just a British thing at all. I live in New England where we have all sorts of weather. All the forecast has to say is "storm-watch" and the stores fill right up. It's amazing really because I'm 53 and I know we have had storms where it would be wise not to drive unless you have to but the thing is, it is extremely rare that we have a storm that lasts so long and so severe that we are going to be stranded at home for any amount of time. I work in a store and it always gets so busy when we are supposed to get snow.

Hi Wizzywig, I'd definitely say its a British thing, don't forget stock piling food for every bank holiday with trollies laden to the top. You just don't see that kind of panic buying over here at all. I don't know anyone who has an air raid shelter at the bottom of the garden either.

Panic buying for a bit of snow?! I'd hate to see what your place would be if it started to hail. From where I am, snow is a bit of a regular occurrence during winter(what a surprise!). Not this winter though, Except for a couple of days in early December, so far it has been mild. Unlike last year, where we got more than a foot of snow. And even then, the only panic buying I saw was for shovels.

I think it may be a British thing, yes! I was watching Newsnight last night (sad, aren't I?), and there was an interesting piece about the weather - apparently, we Brits like to make a big fuss because these things don't happen very often. Of course, I quite agree: having lived in the south of England for most of my life, and by the sea for the rest of it, it's very rare to see snow. I'm loving it - I feel like a little kid again! I wish the hysteria would subside; on the other hand, I got to go home early today because the weather apparently made travel impossible. (I had no issues; nor did I have any trouble in returning to Liverpool from the English / Scottish border last night!) You're right - people are acting as though the world is about to end. The fools... (If it is, in fact, the apocalypse - will someone lend me a loaf of bread?)

No, it is not a British thing. It is funny, they call for snow and people run for the stores. It is crazy!!

I live in Minnesota USA and 6 inches to us is just a dusting most times. This morning I got 3 inches and it is now blowing all over the place. I can't reclal the last time there was a mad rush to buy things due to a snowstorm here. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~

panic buying or snow? We don't have either one here!

I know what you mean, because where I live now it rarely snows and when or if it dose its very light and people tend to make a very big deal out of the slightest bit of snow or cold weather, they act like the world is going to end and I dont get it because I've lived in Ohio a long time ago, and believe me when it snows there it really snows. thats why I moved and people where I live now most of them dont know what its like to be in serious winter weather and they make a big thing out of the littlest bit of snow and I dont get it. lol oh well god bless there hearts.

I feel both ways when it snows a great deal. I don't panic but I do feel a sense of let's just stop everything. It is too difficult to get to work or the store etc. I feel it's mother nature's way of telling us to go ahead and take a break. At the same time I am thinking I've been in snow storms before and lived so everything isn't going to fall apart even if it is more difficult to do most things. Of course the snow is also very beautiful and serene to look at It's definitely not just a British thing. I am in New York and New Yorkers seems to have the same kind of response especially in some areas of the city like Staten Island and Long Island which are more rural than Manhattan etc.

No it is not just a British things here in my country people will overstock if they hear a storm is coming. If you go and get enough groceries for a week or maybe two you should have enough because most roads are cleared at least 2 or 3 days after a storm. Of course this does depend on the amount of snow that you got.

Not at all. I commented on this a couple of days ago when they were just forcasting snow for my area. People here rush to the grocery store and buy things like 5 loaves of bread, 4 cartons of eggs, 6 gallons of milk and 2 -24 packs of toliet paper. Now who in the world would use this much stuff in a month, much less a week.

People should be used to the amount of snow we get around here. For the most part they are but I would be deluding myself if there is not some level of panic. A few flurries and the world seems to be crashing down for some people. Really, I think this may be one of the tamest winters around here in years but there is panic. Its a worldwide thing I imagine, because I hear of cases like this all over the world.

Hello, Wizzy. These silly people are just making things worse - and they can't see it. I also think England is woefully inept at coping with bad weather, seeing we get it every winter. When we drove back to the Costa Blanca last month, we had snow for over 400 miles of our 500 mile trip. although they get snow in Northern Spain and as far as Madrid, it's unprecedented to get it as far south east as it came this time. Despite the fact that Spain is unused to these conditions, the snow ploughs were in position ready for the call. When snow and ice blocked the motorway, the police stopped the traffic and brought the snow ploughs and gritters through, then allowed us to continue on our way. It took 12 hours instead of the usual 9 - 10, but at least we weren't stranded overnight.