Warning issued to drivers in the north west amid ‘severe weather alert’ for snow
An important warning has been issued to drivers in the north west for this week, as an ‘Arctic blast’ is set to bring plunging temperatures and the chance of snow and ice.[1]
A ‘severe weather[2] alert’ for snow affecting the north west region has been issued, between 3am and 11.59pm on Tuesday (January 16). Current forecasts from the Met Office show that much of the Greater Manchester region will have a high chance of snow showers[3].
Road users are now being advised to check ahead and plan for disruption to their journeys in a warning issued by National Highways North West, which said the low-pressure conditions could bring with it ‘widespread snow’.
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National Highways have warned of possible travel delays on roads with the possibility of vehicles and passengers becoming stranded, with further delays or cancellations to rail services.
They said some rural communities could ‘become temporarily cut off’, along with the chance of power cuts in some areas that could also affect mobile phone coverage.
There is also a chance that untreated pavements and cycle paths could ‘become impassable’, with between one and three centimetres of snow currently predicted to fall over the region, including in Greater Manchester.
Particular roads that could face ‘significant disruption’ include the M6, M55, M57, M60[5], M61, M65, the western part of the M62[6] and the A628 (Woodhead Pass).
The warning continued: “It has the potential to bring travel disruption and will develop in two stages, complicating the forecast. Snow showers are going to feed into the Northwest region during the early hours of Tuesday, particularly along coastal areas where they will be more frequent.
“Whilst accumulations will vary due to their erratic nature, 1-3cm of snow is expected widely in western parts (from Carlisle down to Manchester), perhaps 3-5cm in places.
A number of roads could face ‘significant disruption’ this week (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
“A south-westerly wind will then pick up later in the morning, allowing the showers to merge into a more organised band of precipitation. The snow will turn to rain at low levels and on coastal locations during the afternoon, initiating a thaw, whilst migrating towards high ground with 1-3cm widely above 200m and up to 5-10cm on top of the A66 and the M62. The band of rain, sleet and snow will peter out during the evening whilst slowly sinking southwards.”
It comes as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice across much of England, including the north west, for Tuesday (January 16) and Wednesday (January 17).
Their most up-to-date forecast for Manchester[7] on Tuesday says there is a 80 percent chance of ‘heavy snow’ from around 6am followed by a 60pc chance of ‘light snow’ from around 9am.
References
- ^ chance of snow and ice. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ weather (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ of the Greater Manchester region will have a high chance of snow showers (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ click here (manchester.page.link)
- ^ M60 (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ M62 (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ up-to-date forecast for Manchester (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)