How can I persuade my elderly aunt not good idea to visit.

You haven't said where you live, but there are severe weather warnings for most districts, so I am sure she will be sensible.

But she is a grown up, with a life time of decision making. All you can do is let her know of any police warnings and remind her to pack boots, flask, food and blankets. Women of 78 often hate being treated like little old ladies Good luck with the party.

Her age doesn't help at all, but the issue is really the weather. We wouldn't want a fit 20-year-old to come down in this, but, obviously, a fit 20-something has a better chance if they break down etc.

Well she is 78. We've made in plain that the weather is atrocious -we'd feel guilty if we didn't. She is um-ing and aah-ing. We suppose we cannot stop her; but we have thoroughly emphasised how bad it is.

sorry I haven`t read all the posts on this thread so don`t know if it has been mentioned
could your aunt get the train instead of driving to you?

Lilygran, au contraire, my two forty-something sons don't believe I am old and decrepit! But if they thought I was proposing to drive in risky conditions, I am sure they would have a cautionary word with me.
Bermeiryour elderly aunt should by now have enough common sense to know what she can cope with, but it would show her you care, if you rang her up and put it tactfully that you would be worried about her.

That wasn't supposed to say 'duh' sorry..it's the iPad ran away with again and then I posted instead of pre-viewed. I was going to add there will surely be other family get-togethers?

Just tell her it's not the right time for a visit and you'll rearrange it when the forecast is better. Duh!

Both my daughters are grandmothers, but I don't think they consider me old and decrepit!

Yes, she did, Greatnan. But I don't have your confidence that 50+ wouldn't be thought of as old and decrepit by a 40 year old! Some of the grans on Gransnet are young enough to be my children

Bermeir IMHO its ok to speak to your Aunt about your concerns because its not what you say, its how you say it..

Better out than in... but when it is going out dress it up well x x

Bermeir did post a reply, just after 9 a.m. She says her aunt is 'good for her age' so I am guessing she is not a fit 50 year old.

'My aunt' could be a frail 85 year old or a robust and adventurous 50, Bermeir, you don't say. I happily drove all over the country when I knew I could deal sensibly with most eventualities including digging the car out of a drift, walking to a refuge or spending the night in the car. I wouldn't dream of doing so now because I know I would not be able to fend for myself. Perhaps your aunt knows what her own limitations are. BTW, will you be calling back to see what valuable advice has been offered on your OP?

The thing is merlotgran that family commitments are very often exactly that. Well in my case they are anyway. For me, not going to mum and dads or my grandmas because of the weather is simply not an option.

Bermeir Is it possible for your Aunt to come by train with perhaps someone meeting her at the station? You obviously have more faith in the weather forcasts than I have. We have had snow alerts for a week or more but only one actual snowfall which melted as it landed.

I think a lot of people seriously understimate just how bad our British weather can be and ignore advice.

From ignoring advice not to travel at all. Not to drive or walk through deep flood water, stand on slippery rocks watching storms at sea, to going on long journeys in snowy cold weather without warm clothing, welly boots or such and or sleeping bags and hot drinks in case you do get stranded.

Having warm clothing or emergency blankets etc could easily be the difference between surving or not.
Take extra care this weekend.

Err on the side of caution, hypothermia is a rel risk when you are older. We will be watching the forecast before visiting GC at the weekend, although only 20 miles from us it can be a different world in bad weather.

And of course you are not only put yourself at risk, but other road users. I believe some gritters and emergency services could not get through because people had abandoned cars on the roads.

My nephew has taken the decision not to visit his grandmother on Friday. It's a three hour drive for him and although he wants to see her (she is very, very frail now) he is worried about getting home if the weather deteriorates. My brother is recovering from a chest infection and has also decided it will be wiser to stay at home as they are two hours away. I think they have made the right decisions. Putting yourself at risk because of family commitments is not necessarily wise.

Oops - sorry for typo - Elegran.

Thank you, Elergran! ( I live in France.) I appreciate the differences in the type of snow but, believe me, things here would soon stop moving if the snow ploughs did not clear it continuously. There is very little economic activity here, apart from logging and farming, so ski tourism is vital and that is probably what motivates the commune to keep the roads clear.

So long as her brain power is intact, I would leave it up to her.

greatnan Snow in Britain causes problems just because most of the country is not as high as Snowdon, or as landlocked as Switzerland. We don't get the definite weather change which gives a fall of deep but fine snow, and then keeps it as snow that can be shovelled away.

The temperature in this island surrounded by seas fluctuates up and down, and the wind changes, so that we get shortish falls of snow, followed by milder spells, several times a day, repeatedly.

The snow is not fine and powdery, it is soggy and melts as it lands, then when the temperature drops a bit it freezes into ice and another layer lands on top of it. It is the ice that makes for dangerous driving conditions.

To keep all the roads safe, whole battalions of snow-ploughs would need to patrol continually 24 hours a day, getting the inch or two of snow off every road the moment it fell, and before the first layer became half-melted and froze.

The staying in bit is a hard decision to make when you're working. I remember vividly leaving a cold but sunny Kent in the morning, to go to work, then, as I crossed the downs, being confronted with snow, and finding it snowing heavily in Bromley. Used to spend half the day congratulating myself for getting there, and half the day worrying about getting back.

I did, however learn not to trust the phrase "snow flurries" flurries my a***!

greatnan It can be cleared when its all settled but trying to clear it while its still falling its like p***ing in the wind.
A lot of vehicles get stuck on the roads in the UK because they have gone out without heeding the weather conditions or the forecasts and get stuck. This then stops the ploughs and the Gritters from getting through.

Stay in when its snowing hard anywhere. I doubt if all weather tyres are needed in most of England. If I lived up in Buxton I might think differently.