Weather warning for North-East and North Yorkshire as heavy snow forecast (From The Northern Echo)
For details on how to contact our editorial and commercial departments, click here
Weather warning for North-East and North Yorkshire as heavy snow forecast
7:16pm Sunday 20th January 2013 in News
Fun in the snow in South Park, Darlington, over the weekend
THE Met Office has tonight issued an amber weather alert for parts of the North-East and North Yorkshire to warn of heavy snow on Monday.
Forecasters say there is a risk of disruption to travel, the likelihood of road closures and possible disruption to power supplies from midnight to 9pm tomorrow night (Monday, January 21).
The snow has already hit the south of England and the Midlands and is now moving north.
A spokesman for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: “As the snow is going to pile up across the region over the next 24 hours it could cause problems for motorists.
“We would advise that motorists take care and they should only make journeys if they are absolutely necessary.”
In some exposed areas of high ground, such as the North York Moors, falls of up to 15cm are expected but residents in coastal areas will see more sleet.
Strong easterly winds are set to cause blizzard conditions in some areas.
The big freeze is expected to last until Thursday, when temperatures are set to rise.
The freezing conditions caused travel chaos in the south of England over the weekend.
Train operators implemented reduced services which are set to continue tomorrow, and at Heathrow Airport - the world's busiest two-runway airport - more flights were cancelled for a third successive day.
Today, bosses cancelled 260 flights, 20 per cent of Heathrow's usual business, and tomorrow 10 per cent of flights will not operate because of expected low visibility.
A number of flights at Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley Airports were also cancelled.
Motorists have been urged to take extra care, with many roads like ice rinks.
Edmund King, AA president, said: "The hidden danger is the sheet ice below the inch or two of fresh snow on un-gritted local roads where snow and slush from Saturday has frozen. Many of these residential roads are like ice skating rinks.
"If drivers can safely get off their local streets we advise them to stick to the main roads where grit and extra traffic has helped keep the ice away."
In Middlesbrough, Nunthorpe Academy has already announced that it will close tomorrow as a result of the severe weather forecast.
The sixth form centre will remain open for students sitting external exams.
*Check thenorthernecho.co.uk tomorrow morning for live updates on weather conditions across the region.
Comments are closed on this article.
