A new warning for snow ice has been issued by the Met Office for parts of Lancashire.
The yellow warning comes after a series of other weather warnings that have been issued in January as the wintry start to 2025 continues. It comes into force at 3am on Thursday (January 9) and lasts until 12pm.
The warning covers Chorley, West Lancashire and South Ribble, plus parts of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and Wales. The Met Office says snow and icy patches in these areas could lead to travel disruption on Thursday.
People are being urged to take care on icy patches of pavements and roads. A Met Office spokesperson added: “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”.
Another yellow weather warning for ice is currently in force until 12pm today (January 8), covering the whole of Lancashire. The UK is braced for another icy blast, with temperatures set to plummet as low as minus 15C, the coldest of the winter so far.
The mercury is set to drop sharply, with lows of minus 15C possible in Scotland and northern England overnight on Thursday and sub-zero temperatures expected across the country. A temperature of minus 14C would equal the lowest seen in this month last year, recorded in Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands on January 17 2024.
A new warning issued for snow and ice has been issued for Thursday
But a temperature of minus 16C would be the lowest recorded in January in the UK for 15 years, since minus 22.3C was logged in Altnaharra in the Highlands on January 8 2010, according to Met Office data. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday.
Amber alerts issued on Thursday have been extended and will now run until January 12, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: “We are extending the duration of our Cold-Health Alert, since the Met Office are forecasting that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue further into this week, with snow and icy conditions likely to persist. This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.”
Latest 5-day Met Office forecast for the region:
Today:
A cold and frosty but bright start, with sunshine turning hazy through the afternoon in the south. Some fog or freezing fog patches lingering through the day. Dry for most and feeling cold, but winds lighter than on Tuesday. Maximum temperature 3C.
Tonight:
Largely dry with a few showers along the coast during the early hours. Elsewhere, very cold under the clear skies with a severe frost, icy stretches and some freezing fog. Minimum temperature -8C.
Thursday:
A frosty start with freezing fog patches and wintry showers in the south and west, but brighter and drier in the north. Feeling cold in the northerly winds. Maximum temperature 4C.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Turning cloudier on Friday with the chance of some rain and hill snow into Saturday, turning back to rain. Staying largely cloudy on Sunday with patchy drizzle. Becoming milder.
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