Temperatures dropped below freezing last night
A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued (Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Today is the sixth day in a row Merseyside has been hit with a weather warning. The yellow weather warning for snow and ice comes after days of traffic chaos, school closures and rail cancellations as a result of the disruptive weather.
The latest warning for today began at 12.15am and is in place until 11am. A map published by the Met Office shows the whole of the region covered by the yellow weather warning. The weather service said: “Showers, mostly of rain and sleet at low levels and near coasts, but of snow inland and over higher ground, are expected to affect the area later Wednesday night and on Thursday morning.
“With many surfaces below freezing, this will lead to some icy stretches on untreated surfaces, while a few cm of fresh snow could affect some areas, mainly places above about 100 metres.” Below is an hour by hour forecast for the hours the weather alert is active.
- 3am – Temperature -1 C. Feels like temperature -3 C. Chance of precipitation 10%
- 4am – Temperature -1 C. Feels like temperature -3 C. Chance of precipitation 20%
- 5am – Temperature -1 C. Feels like temperature -3 C. Chance of precipitation 30%
- 6am – Temperature -1 C. Feels like temperature -3 C. Chance of precipitation 50%
- 7am – Temperature 0 C. Feels like temperature -3 C. Chance of precipitation 70%
- 8am – Temperature 0C . Feels like temperature -2 C. Chance of precipitation 70%
- 9am – Temperature 1 C. Feels like temperature -2 C. Chance of precipitation 60%
- 10am – Temperature 1 C. Feels like temperature -1 C. Chance of precipitation 50%
- 11am – Temperature 2 C. Feels like temperature -1 C. Chance of precipitation 50%
- 12pm – Temperature 3 C. Feels like temperature 0 C. Chance of precipitation 50%
The first weather warning of the year was on Saturday, January 4, a yellow weather warning for snow was in place from 12pm and lasted for three days until it was lifted on Monday, January 6. A rare amber warning was also activated across Saturday into Sunday as Merseyside was placed under a double weather warning for snow.
Heavy snowfall on Sunday saw road closures and travel delays affecting large parts of the region. Liverpool John Lennon Airport told passengers that the runway would be closed due to the weather conditions. On Monday a further yellow snow and ice weather warning was issued for Merseyside which led to a blanket of snow covering the region on Tuesday morning and a sheet ice forming on the city’s roads
Yesterday (Wednesday) a yellow warning for ice was in place all morning and was lifted at 12pm, while there was no snowfall, the temperature did drop and the roads required heavy gritting. As a result of the icy conditions, Merseyrail faced issues with several services cancelled throughout the day.
The weather agency advise to be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly. When a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.