Today, President Biden’s huge entourage arrived in Glasgow Airport ahead COP26. However, they were met by torrential rain and brutally wet conditions that saw two bridges being ‘washed away.
A C17 military aircraft emitted clouds of smoke as it touched down on the runway. It then disgorged the president’s Marine One helicopter, scores of security personnel and gave them a break from the downpours.
The fact that this was only a small fraction of the US team made today’s scenes even more impressive. Jill Biden and her husband are in Rome today for a discussion on a range of topics, including climate change.
The President, a Roman Catholic devout, was photographed in the San Damaso courtyard at the Apostolic Palace, shaking hands with the ‘Pope’s gentlemen, before being taken to the papal library, where the talks will take place.
Before it touched down, the C17 military plane emitted clouds before disgorging the President’s Marine One helicopter.
The military plane was also seen with scores of security personnel. They were treated to a brief respite from the torrential downpours.
Today’s scenes were even more impressive considering that it was only a fraction the US team. Jill Biden, the husband of Senator Joe Biden, is in Rome today to meet Pope Francis to discuss a range issues including climate change.
It is unclear if abortion rights, which have been championed in the US by Biden and has seen senior Bishops call for him not to receive Communion, will be included in their talks.
Biden fled his declining approval ratings at home, partisan infighting about his $1.75trillion travel bill to Rome, where he is due to meet leaders from the G20 group wealthy nations for a summit of two days.
It will be the first G20 summit to take place face-to-face since Covid’s death. Biden will hope to use it to rebuild his international reputation after his chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, which frustrated his allies and drew unfavourable comparisons to his predecessor Donald Trump.
It also happens just two days before the start of COP26 climate summit, which will be held in Glasgow and hosted by Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister.
Flooding caused major delays today for world leaders, with one train company urging passengers to ‘not to cross the border’ due to disruption after two bridges were swept away in torrential rain.
Avanti West Coast, which runs services between London Euston in London and Glasgow, where there is the climate conference starting on Sunday, said Network Rail had imposed speed restrictions to ensure safety at various locations.
National Rail stated that disruptions were expected to continue until at least 1pm today. Services will then be ‘gradually reinstated’. It advised passengers not to travel north of Preston today.
Network Rail, two days before Cop26, stated that it had been ‘working very hard throughout the night’ to deal with flooding on the West Coast mainline. Avanti Express and TransPennine Express were also subject to speed restrictions.
In the Dumfries and Galloway town of Annan, two footbridges – the Cuthbertson Bridge and Diamond Jubilee Bridge – were swept away as the River Annan rose. Network Rail Scotland stated that the bridges were destroyed north of the railway, with trains unable pass over a viaduct. This closed the Glasgow Central – Carlisle via Dumfries line.
It also stated that the line will remain closed while workers inspect the Annan Viaduct. Network Rail spokesmen said that divers must enter the water to do this. We can’t do this until the river flow slows down.
Travellers traveling from London to Cop26 would normally use the West Coast train to reach Glasgow. Many are instead forced to travel by LNER from King’s Cross to Edinburgh.
But other trains were disrupted by the weather, including the Edinburgh to Glasgow Central via Shotts, Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High and Glasgow Queen Street to Alloa/Aberdeen/Inverness services.
Major roads to Glasgow were submerged by heavy rainfall this week. Glasgow’s Great Western Road, located in the West End, was also submerged. Drivers were forced from their cars when the flooding struck.
After declaring that 500 properties were at risk of flooding, emergency services evacuated Hawick residents overnight.
Joe Biden arrived at the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis. The pair will discuss climate change and social injustice in preparation for tomorrow’s G20 summit.
Joe and Jill Biden were pictured meeting with the ‘Pope’s gentlemen’ at the Apostolic Palace before being led to the papal library where his talks with Francis will take place
Biden has been under fire from the US for his support for abortion rights. This has seen bishops ask for Biden to be denied Communion. It is not yet known if the issue will feature in his talks with Francis.
Cop26 delegates who are travelling to the summit on climate change will wait at the London Euston station concourse this morning.
Officers in Hawick were 15 miles north of England’s border and called in the Borders Water Rescue Team and mountain rescue and fire teams to evacuate properties. Schools and health centres were also closed.
Forecasters pointed out that temperatures were unusually mild for this time of year. Suffolk saw highs of 17.3C (63.1F). They said that the weather would remain unsettled through the weekend with another wet front from the West today and further weather warnings for as much as 80mm (3.1in).
The highest rainfall today was to be expected in Cumbria (3.1in) and South West England. Dartmoor was experiencing 80mm (3.1in), more than a week’s supply, compared to 215mm (8.4in) that was the October average for the region. Other areas were also expected to receive 40mm (1.57in), according to the Met Office, in South West Scotland, or 60mm (2.4in), in Wales.
The 14 flood warnings and seven alerts issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency today were followed by 47 alerts and 23 warnings from the Environment Agency in England. Natural Resources Wales had 33 alerts.
Peebles saw the River Tweed burst into its banks. There were fears in Hawick that it would follow the Teviot. The town’s Teviotdale Leisure Centre was designated as a rest center to provide shelter for residents from at-risk communities. The Bourtree, a local pub, offered tea and coffee for free and promised to stay open overnight for accommodation.
Today, police and security personnel gathered outside the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow. This is where the Cop26 summit takes place.
As they walk past the SEC venue in Glasgow, a number of pedestrians take cover under umbrellas.
Grey skies over Glasgow’s SEC this morning ahead the Cop26 climate change conference.