The weather conditions yesterday were described as the grimmest of the winter for the Burnley area as the north was swept by snowstorms and high winds. A section of Burnley F C main stand roof was ripped off by a severe gust of wind, with most of the debris falling into the enclosure. But the wind was so strong that it carried a plank from the damaged section at the front of the roof over the top of the stand and into Brunshaw road. Clouds of powdery snow drifted across roadways and motorists had to go with bad visibility along with slippery and treacherous road surfaces.