North East weather forecast for every day this week including snow, ice and frost

The week has got off to a cold and frosty start across the North East[1] with conditions set to turn increasingly wintry in the coming days.

Weather[2] warnings have been issued for snow and ice across the country this week, with people in the affected areas urged to take extra care when travelling. With Yellow Severe warnings in place across much of Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of England until Thursday, January 18, snow showers are expected to cause delays and disruption to road, rail and air travel, and there is risk of injury from slips and falls on icy surfaces.

Monday in the North East is expected to be largely dry with sunny spells following a widespread frost to start the day, but it will stay very cold throughout with highs of just 1°C. Strong northerly winds may make it feel even chillier, and isolated snow showers are possible along the coast.

Tuesday, January 16, is forecast to bring the most snow to the region, with Yellow snow and ice warnings covering Northumberland[3] and Durham[4] for the full 24 hours as well as as all of Scotland and parts of North West England. Snow showers could merge into a longer spell of snow in these areas following another bright and frosty start, where up to 20cm of snow could fall over higher ground.

The outlook for Wednesday to Friday predicts that the North East will remain largely dry with "plenty of winter sunshine", although it will remain very cold with sharp frost and breezy conditions. In Newcastle[5], sunny spells or clear skies are forecast all day long across the three days, with highs of 1°C on Wednesday, January 17, climbing to 4°C by Friday, January 19.

A transition to milder weather is expected by the weekend, with temperatures climbing to highs of 9°C on Saturday and 8°C on Sunday in Newcastle. This change will be seen across the UK as Atlantic systems start to arrive from the west, the Met Office explained, although this change still carries the possibility of some further snow before the end of the month.

The long-range forecast for the UK predicts: "Once established, milder and wetter than normal conditions seem likely to persist through to late-January, although the south could have some drier spells of weather at times, especially later in the month, when the chance of overnight frost and fog increases once again."

With the most wintry conditions anticipated on Tuesday, motorists have been advised to take extra care before they travel - particularly if you live in or plan to travel through the areas covered by the weather warnings[6]. The Met Office has suggested planning your route and checking for any delays or road closures before you set off, amending your travel plans if necessary.

Amy Fellows, National Network Manager at National Highways, said: "Freezing conditions bring so many hazards such as snow and ice, so take every possible step to understand your journey in advance and allow lots of extra time when travelling to prepare for the unexpected.

"National Highways also reminds motorists to keep TRIP in mind ahead of journeys – Top-up: oil, water, screen wash; Rest: rest every two hours; Inspect: Inspect tyres and lights and Prepare: check your route and the weather forecast," she added.

Additionally, the UK Health Security Agency has an amber Cold Health Alert in force across all areas of England until midday on Friday, January 19, with the possibility of significant impacts for the health and social care sector due to the freezing conditions.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: "The temperatures we will see leading into the weekend can rapidly have a serious impact on the health of those over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions as it increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections. It is therefore vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the cold weather."

References

  1. ^ North East (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
  2. ^ Weather (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
  3. ^ Northumberland (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
  4. ^ Durham (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
  5. ^ Newcastle (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
  6. ^ weather warnings (www.metoffice.gov.uk)

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