Hour by hour forecast for North East as Storm Eunice…

Hour by hour forecast for North East as Storm Eunice brings heavy snow and strong winds to the region

Residents in parts of the North East have woken up to a blanket of snow as Storm Eunice is set to cause further disruption.

Early on Friday morning, local authorities were out in Tow Law, County Durham clearing roads, while residents were clearing their cars as heavy snow continued to fall.

It is the second storm to hit the UK after Storm Dudley battered the region with winds of up to 80mph suspended a number of Metro services and left homes without power.

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The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning which predicted to bring 'heavy snow' and 'strong winds' for parts of the region through Thursday night until Friday evening.

Elsewhere in the UK, millions braced for “ dangerous conditions ” as winds from the second storm prompted two rare red weather warnings for much of the south of England and part of Wales.

A Network Rail spokesman said disruption is “inevitable” while London North East Railway urged customers with tickets for Friday to travel on Saturday instead or get a refund due to expected disruption and damage. A Northern Rail spokesman said it was advising customers “NOT TO TRAVEL across the Northern network”.

Today's Met Office weather forecast for the North East states: "Storm Eunice will bring rain and hill snow first thing, before clearing away northeastwards to allow a brighter spell to develop during the morning.

"Further wintry showers arriving from the west during the afternoon. Gales developing later in the day. Maximum temperature 4 °C."

And for tonight: "Further bands of rain, sleet and hill snow moving across the region overnight. Windy, with gales at first, easing later. "A fairly widespread frost, with ice risk on hills. Minimum temperature -1 °C."

Here is the hour by hour forecast for Newcastle

8am : 2C/ Cloudy/ wind gust 23mph

9am : 3C/ Cloudy/ wind gust 20mph

10am : 4C/ Light shower/ wind gust 21 mph

11am : 4C/ Cloudy/ wind gust 15mph

12pm : 4C/ Light shower/ wind gust 16mph

1pm : 4C/ Heavy rain/ wind gust 20mph

2pm : 4C/ Light rain/ wind gust 35mph

3pm : 4C/ Heavy rain/ wind gust 47mph

4pm : 3C/ Heavy rain/ wind gust 48mph

5pm : 3C/ Light rain/ wind gust 45mph

6pm : 3C/ Light rain/ wind gust 43mph