Storm Chandra disrupts English football schedule
Storm Chandra has wreaked havoc on English football, forcing the cancellation of two EFL fixtures on Tuesday, reports BritPanorama.
The League One encounter between Wimbledon and bottom-placed Port Vale was called off at 11am after the pitch became unplayable due to waterlogging. Earlier that morning, Cheltenham Town’s League Two meeting with Gillingham suffered the same fate following an inspection at 9:30am.
Match officials assessed the sodden surface at Cheltenham after torrential overnight rain and determined that play was impossible. The club indicated that conditions showed no prospect of improvement, with further severe weather anticipated throughout the day.
Rescheduled dates for both fixtures will be announced in due course. Numerous non-league fixtures scheduled for Tuesday evening have also fallen victim to the waterlogged conditions sweeping the nation.
National Rail issued a warning that “poor weather may affect South Western Railway services until the end of the day,” causing issues for fans in the region attending games. Conditions are expected to settle by midnight, meaning fixtures later this week are unlikely to be affected.
Beyond the disruption in football, Storm Chandra has unleashed widespread destruction across Britain. Over 300 flood alerts have been issued for England, Wales, and Scotland, including one severe warning for the land at River Otter near Sidmouth. York has also experienced severe flooding after the River Ouse broke through its banks, inundating parts of the city.
The Met Office took the unusual step of issuing a “danger to life” alert as gusts reached up to 75mph in certain areas. Both amber and yellow weather warnings remain active across multiple regions, with heavy rainfall and snowfall battering northern parts of the country. The south-east remains under a yellow warning, raising concerns that additional professional matches could be postponed as the storm persists.
Transport networks have also been thrown into disarray by the ferocious conditions. Leeds Bradford Airport faced significant disruption on Tuesday, leaving many travellers stranded, while Belfast City Airport was forced to cancel flights entirely. Ferry services have likewise been affected by the treacherous weather. The storm’s impact on education has been substantial, with more than 300 schools across Northern Ireland shutting their doors and a further seven in Herefordshire.
Motorists in Devon found themselves trapped after floodwaters engulfed roads, leaving vehicles stranded.
This ongoing chaos stands as a vivid reminder of the delicate balance between nature and daily life, with the ripple effects evident in both sport and society.
