As temperatures begin to plummet across the UK, the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice, covering parts of north west England.
The warning will also cover parts of Northern Ireland and Wales, with the major areas currently covered including Cheshire West and Chester, Merseyside, County Armagh, County Down, Cardiff, and Swansea. It's the first significant weather warning from the Met Office, alongside the UKHSA level 3 warning for health risks in the cold weather, to be implemented following predictions that some areas in the country could see snow from this week into next.
It means that in those areas currently covered by the yellow warning, which is in place between midnight and 6pm on Thursday, there will be a risk of injury from slips and falls on icy surfaces as well as icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements, and cycle paths where extra care must be taken. There is also the chance that roads and public transport services may be delayed by the icy conditions.
The Met Office said: “Frequent wintry showers will spread into Northern Ireland through the early hours of Thursday then on to Wales and parts of the West Midlands during the morning. These will fall on frozen ground in many areas, leading to the formation of icy stretches on untreated surfaces.
"In addition, showers are likely to fall as snow on high ground and perhaps more widely across Wales and the West Midlands during the day, with slight accumulations possible in places."
It added: "Showers will fall as snow to low levels inland on Wednesday, continuing through Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Accumulations of 2-5 cm are possible at lower levels, with 5-10 cm above 200 metres. Some drifting and blizzard conditions are likely in the strong northerly winds.
"In addition, ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces, mainly where some of the showers fall as rain or sleet on some coasts."
The UKHSA level 3 warning which covers Greater Manchester and the rest of England means there is an increased risk to health as temperatures begin to plummet to close to below freezing. People have been urged to 'look out for family and friends who may be vulnerable to the cold' and to ensure their homes are warm enough while the warning is in place.
Vulnerable people, such as the elderly or those with certain health conditions, are also being encouraged to avoid exposing themselves to the cold and icy conditions outdoors.
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