Meteorologists are warning Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire will be hit with ‘hours of heavy snow’ as gritters take to the roads. Community leaders have asked residents to check on elderly relatives and vulnerable neighbours as it could feel as cold as -6C this weekend.
Meanwhile highways chiefs with Staffordshire County Council say its fleet of 38 gritters will be out in force to keep the roads moving. As reported by StokeonTrentLive some areas in the Moorlands have some seen light snow flurries this morning as families have again woken up to freezing temperatures.
Today and there are yellow warnings for ice and snow around Wales, Scotland and the north west coast of England. A huge yellow warning for snow and ice going from the border of Scotland down to the south of the country – taking in Staffordshire – is set to come in at noon tomorrow and run through to 11.59pm on Sunday.
It’s tomorrow when Met Office forecasters reckon North Staffordshire will be hit by a wintry blast. Currently light snow is expected to fall in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle from 8pm tomorrow before turning heavier around 10pm and last to the early hours – before heavy rain on Sunday.
But in an around Leek that heavy snow will continue through to around 6am on Sunday morning. Temperatures will drop to 0C – but will feel more like -6C.
WXCharts is showing snow across North Staffordshire in the early hours of Sunday morning
The BBC says the Potteries will see light snow from 9pm on Saturday that will turn heavy before sleet showers from 1am. Meanwhile the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber cold-health alert – that will last until noon on January 8.
Jeremy Pert, the county council’s cabinet member for health and care, said: “It is important that we all play our part in helping keep ourselves and the most vulnerable in our communities safe and well during the cold spell.
“Checking on elderly family and neighbours and taking extra care if out and about are all simple things we can all do if more severe weather does effect the county.”
Motorists are also urged to take care in the wintry conditions are county council gritters head out. Councillor Mark Deaville, cabinet member for strategic highways, said: “Our highways crews are back in action over the next few days as temperatures plummet and snow is forecast.
“We’re well prepared for winter and with more than 20,000 tonnes of salt stockpiled, crews are well-equipped to battle any adverse weather conditions coming our way.
“While the teams will be pulling out all the stops to keep the county moving, as always, I would ask that drivers also play their part too. Please slow down, drive to the conditions and allow more time for journeys.”
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