The Met Office has slapped TWO Amber weather warnings across Greater Manchester with snow and ice forecast to be on the way.
The weather service said predicted that snow and freezing rain over the weekend are likely to lead to disruption, including possible power cuts, transport delays and road closures.
There is currently an Amber weather warning for snow covering an area from Newcastle all the way down to Greater Manchester.
And there’s a separate Amber warning for snow and ice which covers everywhere from Cardiff up to Greater Manchester.
It means that our city is currently under three separate weather warnings across the UK, according to the Met Office.
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The warnings for snow and ice are in place from 6pm on Saturday until midday on Sunday, while the warning for just snow begins on Saturday at 9pm and doesn’t end until Sunday at midnight.
According to the Greater Manchester weather forecast, we are likely to see heavy snow showers overnight on Saturday and into Sunday morning.
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Though in typical Manchester fashion, there’s then heavy rain forecast on Sunday afternoon which may melt any snow that does fall.
Amber severe weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued for parts of England and Wales this weekend with up to 30-40cm of snow possible in parts of Northern England.
The Met Office said: “Snow will become persistent and locally heavy as it pushes south to north across the warning area. As well as snow, a period of freezing rain is also likely bringing some hazardous travel conditions, before milder air follows across all areas by Sunday morning.
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“Whilst there is some uncertainty in details, 3-7 cm of snow is likely for much of the warning area, with locally 15-30 cm for the higher ground of Wales and the southern Pennines. Freezing rain could lead to ice accretion in places, especially parts of Wales, before the milder air leads to a rapid thaw of snow and ice in the south of the warning area through Sunday.
“It is safer not to drive in these conditions, but if you need to make an essential journey, consider alternative forms of transport, to keep you and others safe. If you must drive, do this more safely by: using dipped headlights; accelerating gently, using low revs and changing to higher gears as quickly as possible; starting in second gear to help with wheel slip; maintaining a safe and steady speed, keeping distance from other vehicles; using a low gear to go downhill, avoiding braking unless necessary; steering into skids, not taking your hands of the wheel, and avoiding slamming on brakes.
“People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.
“If isolated due to snow or ice, follow these simple steps to keep safe and well: keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night; turn off electrical heaters and put out your fire before going to bed; ensure pets are safe by keeping them warm and comfortable; prevent frozen pipes by opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing; stay indoors, wrap up warm and close internal doors to keep the heat in; and, if you need support call the British Red Cross Support Line on 0808 196 3651.
“Help to protect vulnerable people that you know including older people, those with underlying conditions and those who live alone; they may need support with food and medical supplies. If you are worried about your health or that of somebody you know, ring NHS 111.”
Manchester Oxford Road station could close for more than two years for a major refurb
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s major central train stations could be set to close to the public for more than two years.
Hundreds of trains pass through Manchester Oxford Road each week, but that could soon be set to change, as Network Rail has today launched a public consultation on plans to carry out major upgrades at the station in a bid to “deliver improvements” for passengers and the wider rail network.
Upgrades include longer platforms, track and signalling improvements, and even the construction of a new station footbridge.
Proposed track layout and signalling improvements would reduce congestion by removing conflicting train movements, while overhead line equipment would also be upgraded, as well as over 900m of new track being laid.
Accessibility would also be improved throughout the station, with the proposed new footbridge increasing movement space for passengers and new lifts allowing step-free access to all platforms.
🛤️Big plans for Oxford Road!
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Wider resurfaced platforms, and improvements to existing lifts are also planned.
Network Rail says the aim of the public consultation is to “give everyone the opportunity to review outline proposals” and to “provide their views” so that these can be taken into account and inform further design.
Feedback is being invited on all scheme elements – such as design, construction, and the impacts of the scheme on the rail network, environment and community.
Manchester Oxford Road station could close for more than two years for a major refurb / Credit: Northern
Speaking on the consultation as it launched today, Councillor Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We have said for a long time that Oxford Road Station is in need of a range of improvements from easing the congestion, increasing capacity, improving reliability and ensuring that the station is accessible for all commuters.
“Any future development will be a long-term project but infrastructure upgrades like these are essential if we are to continue growing Manchester as the leading city of the North.”
The first round of consultation will run up until 28 February, both online via the feedback form available at here, as well as at two drop-in events at Friends’ Meeting House, on Mount Street in the city centre, on Saturday 1 February from 11am-4pm, and Monday 17 February from 2pm-7pm.
A second round of consultation is due to take place before the end of 2025, and once both consultations have been considered, Network Rail is looking to submit the applications needed to build the scheme next year.
Featured Image – Network Rail
News
Public urged to use NHS services the ‘normal way’ after busiest winter week for jam-packed hospitals
Emily Sergeant
The public is being urged to use NHS services in ‘normal way’ this winter after hospitals experience their busiest winter week.
New data published by the NHS last week shows that more hospital beds were occupied during the first full week of the year (6-12 January 2025) than at any point so far this winter – with 97,636 adult general and acute hospital beds occupied, which equates to 96%.
In that same week, it was believed that almost one in seven occupied hospital beds (13,585) were taken up by patients who were fit to be discharged.
This meant it was officially the busiest week of the winter season so far for the NHS.
New NHS data reveals that last week saw the highest number of hospital beds occupied so far this winter, with 96% of adult general and acute beds in use.
Flu rates are still 3.5 times higher than last year, with 4,929 patients in hospital with flu on average each day of the week until 12 January, 1,112 patients across the UK were in hospital with COVID, and there was also 650 norovirus patients too, which is up 4% on the previous week and up a whopping 44% on last year.
With the cold weather set to continue and create “enormous pressure” on frontline services, it’s predicted that many hospitals could declare critical incidents.
While the NHS says it did learn from last year, and put in place measures to manage extra demand this time around, including upgraded 24-hour co-ordination centres, support for frequent users of A&E services, strengthening same day emergency care, providing more care in the community, and delivering 29 million vaccines since the autumn, there’s still more that needs to be done.
The public is being urged to use NHS services the ‘normal way’ after its busiest winter week / Credit: Pxhere
Professor Julian Redhead, who is the National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care at the NHS, said it’s “vital” that the public uses the health service in the “normal way” over the coming months.
“While it is encouraging news that flu cases are no longer increasing, hospitals are not out of the woods yet,” Professor Redhead said.
“Staff are working incredibly hard in sometimes challenging surroundings, but winter viruses are much higher than usual for this time of year, and this coupled with the cold snap and problems discharging patients means hospitals are jam-packed with patients – even as more beds have been opened to manage increased demand.
“With pressures on hospitals still formidable, it’s vital people continue to use NHS services in the normal way.
“[This means] using 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only using 999 or attend A&E in life-threatening emergencies.”
Daisy Jackson -
3rd January 2025 
