An amber weather warning has been issued in Gloucestershire as freezing weather descends on the county. The Met Office warning for snow and ice is in place from 6pm tomorrow (Saturday, January 4) until 12pm on Sunday.
The latest warning covers Stroud, Cirencester, Gloucester, the Forest of Dean, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. Forecasters are warning of widespread disruption including traffic delays and power cuts.
A yellow snow and ice warning is already in place for Gloucestershire from 12pm tomorrow until 11.59pm on Sunday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued an amber cold health alert which is in place until 12pm next Wednesday (January 8).
On the amber warning, the Met Office said: “Snow will become persistent and locally heavy as it pushes south to north across the warning area. As well as snow, a period of freezing rain is also likely bringing some hazardous travel conditions, before milder air follows across all areas by Sunday morning.
“Whilst there is some uncertainty in details, 3-7 cm of snow is likely for much of the warning area, with locally 15-30 cm for the higher ground of Wales and the southern Pennines. Freezing rain could lead to ice accretion in places, especially parts of Wales, before the milder air leads to a rapid thaw of snow and ice in the south of the warning area through Sunday.”
(Image: Met Office)
Forecasters have outlined what to expect during the latest amber warning:
- 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