More wintry weather is in store for the region over
the weekend with strengthening winds again across much of the region this
evening and overnight, then a sharp change to much colder weather tomorrow
morning with the risk of snow showers and ice later tomorrow and overnight into
Sunday morning.
The Met Office has issued a number of weather
warnings for the region as follows:
Rain (south west end of County Durham), Medium
likelihood of Minor impacts, valid 1500 Friday to 0900 Saturday:
Heavy, prolonged rain has already set in across a
good part of the Pennine region where it will be fairly persistent this
afternoon and evening. A yellow warning is in force, primarily for areas over
and to the west of the Pennines, just clipping the far southwest of the county
where some minor impacts are possible. The rain elsewhere across the North East
will be less persistent and generally lighter, especially through this evening
and overnight.
Strong winds (all areas), Medium likelihood of
Minor impacts, valid 2100 Friday to 0800 Saturday:
West to south westerly winds will strengthen again
this evening and will extend further south to include the whole of the North
East. Gusts of 50 to 60mph are well possible and some may well reach 60 to
70mph. Such winds will be capable of causing disruption to HGVs, especially on
exposed sections of the motorway network with a risk to power transmission as
well as perhaps the less secure building structures and trees.
Later on Friday night and first thing on Saturday
morning, a very well-marked cold front will make a south eastwards sweep
through the region. Temperatures will drop by several degrees and will be
accompanied by a short period of heavy rain and very squally winds.
Snow/ice (all areas), Medium likelihood of Minor
impacts, valid 0600 Saturday to 1200 Sunday:
A much colder regime will follow for the remainder
of Saturday and overnight into Sunday morning. With brisk westerly winds
blowing, it will feel decidedly chilly despite the sunshine. There is the
possibility that wintry showers will extend into the North East from across the
Pennines. Any that do, will be wintry with hail, sleet and snow likely
down to low levels. Whilst it is tricky to gauge the extent of any snow
showers, the high-level trans-Pennine routes are at greatest risk of disruption
by snow, where drifting may become an issue with ice another potential hazard
by Saturday night.
Through the course of Sunday, the wintry risk is
expected to diminish with any sleet/snow showers reverting back to rain.
However, the unsettled weather looks likely to
extend through to next week with a renewed (and perhaps more widespread) snow
risk on Tuesday and the threat of renewed strong winds/rain Wednesday/Thursday.
The council already has staff out dealing with the
impact of last night’s severe weather and we will have people available over
the weekend to deal with issues as they arise.
We
will also have people available to take calls out of hours tonight and over the
weekend.