Several major roads in Lancashire have been affected by ice and landslips this morning after temperatures plunge following heavy rain over the New Year.
Police have urged motorists to take extra care on the roads and dual carriageways and to ‘only travel if needed’. A yellow weather warning for ice remains in force until 10am today (January 2) while a three-day yellow weather warning for snow has been issued for this weekend.
Rossendale Police said they have closed the A56 from Rising Bridge to Huncoat ‘due to extensive ice’. They are asking motorists to ‘avoid the area’.
Traffic monitoring service Inrix reports: “Reports of ice on A56 Northbound from A680 Blackburn Road (Rising Bridge Roundabout, Haslingden) to A679 (Huncoat). Approach with care. Traffic is coping well.”
Skelmersdale Police said the cold weather overnight has resulted in ‘black ice’ on Hall Lane in Lathom. Officers are asking people to ‘only travel if needed’.
A spokesperson said: “**Weather Alert** Good Morning, due to the cold weather we have had overnight, Hall Lane Lathom is experiencing black ice. Because of this, we’re asking you to only travel if needed. If you need to travel please drive to the weather conditions.”
Haslingden Old Road in Oswaldtwistle remains closed due to a landslip between Cobbs lane and Broadfield in Haslingden. It comes after heavy flooding hit the area on New Year’s Day.
One flood warning and four flood alerts remain in place across Lancashire on Thursday. The latest Met Office forecast shows a dry sunny day with highs of only 2C while temperatures are again set to plummet overnight to lows of -7C.
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