The more serious amber warning for snow will come into effect at 9pm today and continue until midnight tomorrow
Snow falls on the Beatles Statue at Pier Head, Liverpool(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Merseyside has been hit with a rare double weather warning as snow and freezing rain are predicted to fall on the region tonight. A yellow warning is currently in place across most of England and the north of Scotland, with heavy snow, freezing rain and subsequent travel disruption on the horizon.
This yellow warning for Merseyside will remain in place until midnight tomorrow. An additional, more serious amber warning for snow will come into effect at 9pm today and continue until midnight tomorrow.
The warning was issued yesterday as the Met Office predicted snowfall hitting the south of England today, spreading north through Sunday morning. The warning area was warned to expect 3-7cm of snow, with some higher areas above about 150m predicted to see 15-30cm.
As milder air moves northwards, snow may turn to a spell of freezing rain, especially across parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England, adding to the risk of icy roads and travel disruption
The Met Office advised people to avoid driving during the amber warning if possible. People who have to make essential journeys are asked to take extra care by “using dipped headlights; accelerating gently, using low revs and changing to higher gears as quickly as possible; starting in second gear to help with wheel slip; maintaining a safe and steady speed, keeping distance from other vehicles; using a low gear to go downhill, avoiding braking unless necessary; steering into skids, not taking your hands of the wheel, and avoiding slamming on brakes.”
This is the hour-by-hour weather forecast for Liverpool, according to Met Office experts.
Saturday, January 4
5pm: 2C, <5% chance of precipitation
6pm: 2C, 10% chance of precipitation
7pm: 2C, 20% chance of precipitation
8pm: 2C, 80% chance of precipitation, rain and snow
9pm: 2C, 90% chance of precipitation, snow
10pm: 1C, >95% chance of precipitation, snow
11pm: 1C >95% chance of precipitation, snow
Sunday, January 5
12am: 1C, >95% chance of precipitation, snow
1am: 1C, >95% chance of precipitation, snow
2am: 1C, >95% chance of precipitation, snow
3am: 1C, >95% chance of precipitation, snow
4am: 1C, >95% chance of precipitation, snow
5am: 0C, >95% chance of precipitation, snow
6am: 0C, >95% chance of precipitation, snow
7am: 0C, >95% chance of precipitation, snow
8am: 1C, >95% chance of precipitation, snow
9am: 1C, >95% chance of precipitation, rain and snow
10am: 1C, >90% chance of precipitation, rain
11am: 1C, >90% chance of precipitation, rain and snow