A rare amber warning for snow has been issued across Merseyside
A rare amber warning for snow has been issued across Merseyside(Image: Iain Watts/Liverpool Echo)
Merseyside has been hit with a double weather warning as snow and freezing rain are predicted for large parts of the country this weekend. Stranded vehicles, along with delays or cancellations in rail and air travel, are expected as the UK faces a week of wintry conditions, the Met Office has reported.
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in effect from 12pm on Saturday until 9am on Monday covering Merseyside. Additionally, a fresh amber warning for icy surfaces has been issued for most parts of the region.
Temperatures will again fall widely below freezing during Friday evening. This will allow ice to readily form on untreated surfaces, particularly where roads and pavements remain wet from wintry showers. Scattered showers will fall as a mixture of rain, sleet and snow.
According to the latest forecast from the Met Office, sleet will begin at around 9pm. By 10pm, light snow will begin to fall for two hours until 12am when heavy snowfall is expected. Heavy snowfall is expected to continue until 3am, where it will then be replaced by sleet for the rest of the morning.
Saturday, January 4
9pm: Sleet shower, 2°
10pm: Light snow, 2°
11pm: Light snow, 2°
Sunday, January 5
12am: Heavy snow, 1°
3am: Sleet shower, 1°
6am: Sleet shower, 1°
9am: Heavy rain, 1°
Here is what to expect according to the Met Office:
- There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
- Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers
- Some road closures and longer journey times possible
- Some delays and cancellations to bus, rail and air travel are likely
- There is a good chance that some rural communities could become cut off
- Untreated pavements and cycle paths likely to be impassable
The Met Office said sleet and snow which could be “perhaps heavy and disruptive in places” is expected from Sunday to Tuesday. It will be drier on Monday and Tuesday with a few wintry showers, staying cold with a risk of ice.