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Yellow weather warning issued as Greater Manchester wakes up under blanket of snow

'The weather outside is frightful', and all that...

Emily Sergeant - 16th January 2024

Yellow weather warnings are currently in place across northern England today as Greater Manchester wakes up under a blanket of snow.

After forecasts have been suggesting for the past couple of days that the UK would be faced with a cold snap this week, and weather experts have been predicting that a covering of the white stuff would fall on much of Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England, and the North West in particular today, Greater Manchester has, in fact, woken up to a blanket of snow across the region this morning.

And snow is still falling in many places too, at the time of writing.

As the predictions have turned out to be true, the Met Office has issued several weather warnings for the day – including a yellow weather warning for snow and ice throughout Greater Manchester.

According to the Met Office, the North West’s yellow weather warning will be in place until Thursday evening, and it means further that snow showers, which may “merge into a longer spell of snow”, are likely to “cause disruption” for most of the day today (16 January).

But what exactly should we expect from the day then? And what does this yellow weather warning actually mean?

Here’s what the Met Office has said could happen:

• Possible travel delays on roads, stranding some vehicles and passengers
• Power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services – such as mobile phone coverage
• Possible delays or cancellations to rail and air travel
• A chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
• Some rural communities could become cut off

Giving further insight into what’s coming up today and throughout this week, a Met Office spokesperson has commented: “Snow showers will continue to feed inland early on Tuesday morning across northern and western Scotland, parts of Wales, and North West England, where 2-5 cm of snow is possible over a few hours in some places.

“During the day, an area of more organised rain, sleet and snow is likely to move east with further showers following.

“There is still some uncertainty in the track of more prolonged snow, and it is possible that at lower elevations across Wales and northern England, this could turn to rain for a time. However, there is a chance some places could see 5-10 cm perhaps 20 cm of snow, particularly across the northern half of Scotland and over higher ground elsewhere.”

Greater Manchester residents are being advised to take extra care, plan and allow more time for any journeys needing to be made, and keep an eye on the Met Office website for weather updates.

Read more:

• One of the UK’s biggest ice rinks is set to be built in Trafford
• FOUR Greater Manchester Sunday roasts named among the best in the country
• What is a ‘supercell thunderstorm’? Met Office explains weather phenomenon that hit Stalybridge

You can stay updated here.

Featured Image – Ethel Red (via Flickr)