The North East is to be hit by snow blizzards over the weekend following a week of icy temperatures and wintry showers across the region.
The Met Office has warned of an an ice risk ahead of showery rain, sleet and snow in the North East between 9pm on Friday and 10.30am on Saturday.
They are expecting disruption due to icy patches on roads, pavement and cycle paths as well as longer journey times due to snowfall on higher levels.
Read more: Met Office gives long range weather forecast for Christmas and New Year in the North East
It said: "Bands of showery rain are expected run inland tonight, turning to sleet and snow over some of the higher ground.
"Surfaces are very cold at present, posing the possibility of ice in some areas, the likelihood of this perhaps increased in places by wash-off of road grit or salt. Above 200 to 300 metres elevation some snowfall is likely, with a few cm over some trans-Pennine routes."
Here is a checklist of what to expect:
- Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, leading to increased chance of accidents and injuries
- A few higher level routes seeing snowfall, making for longer journey times
This comes after a week which has been characterised by travel chaos and disruption as a result of the snow and icy surfaces.
On top of this, the Met Office has also issued an update on the yet 'yellow weather warning' they issued yesterday (December 15), forecasting a period of snow could lead to some disruption to travel and other activities, before turning to rain later in the region- with blizzards now forecast.
This further updated weather warning is in place between 7am and 9pm on Sunday.
The Met Office moved to issue this further update to to pull area of concern further north, with areas previously covered by this warning now incorporated into a lower impact ice warning. The start time is also delayed with the original warning area now trimmed from the west/southwest.
What we can expect
- Possible travel delays on roads stranding some vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel.
- Some rural communities could become cut off
- Power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
- A chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
The areas which are set to be affected by the brunt of this latest weather system in the North East are:
- Darlington
- Durham
- Gateshead
- Hartlepool
- Middlesbrough
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- North Tyneside
- Northumberland
- South Tyneside
- Sunderland
The UK will remain cold into the weekend with the risk of sleet and snow at times continuing mainly across northern areas.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Helen Caughey, said: "The northerly airflow and cold conditions which have dominated our weather patterns over the last 10 days will start to lose ground to a push of mild air from the southwest on Sunday.
“As the mild air meets the cold air currently in situ over the UK there will be a transient spell of snow, potentially to low levels, especially in the north. Add to this the risk of rain falling onto frozen surfaces, and strong winds over upland areas of northern Britain, bringing blizzard conditions, and this could be a day to avoid travelling in some areas, although the snow should turn to rain later.
"There is also a brief risk of a period of freezing rain, most likely to impact areas from the Pennines northwards, which could result in some power interruptions."
Read next
- Yellow weather warning with up to 20cm of snow issued for North East this week by Met Office forecasters
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- Tips to stop pipes freezing this winter as North East families struggle during cost of living crisis
- Northumberland mum forced to drive to several pharmacies in freezing conditions for daughter's medication amid shortage
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