Yellow alert issued by Met Office as North East is warned to expect icy conditions

The follow up warning will run from 5pm today, Thursday, January 7, until midnight tomorrow and comes after a series of others shared by forecasters this week.

It covers the whole region, the North West, Wales and Cornwall.

The alert states: “Showers, a mixture of rain sleet and snow, are expected to fall onto frozen surfaces leading to icy stretches forming.

"In addition, a more persistent spell of rain and hill snow is likely to spread south across northern England and north Wales during Thursday evening and night.

“Whilst ice is expected to be the main hazard, snow is likely in place too.

“Snow is most likely to fall over The Pennines, North York Moors and the high ground of Wales, with 1cm to 3 cm possible here.

“Elsewhere, whilst some snowfall is possible, accumulations are likely to be slight and temporary.”

The region’s forecast says today will see a a weak band of rain, sleet and snow edge slowly southwards during the morning.

It will turn icy in places and be brighter in the afternoon, with a few sunny spells developing in the far north, with a maximum temperature of 3C.

Tonight, another band of rain, sleet and snow will spread southwards during the evening, feeling bitterly cold in the wind with widespread frost developing, dropping to as low as -3C.

Tomorrow the cold will continue with occasional wintry showers, becoming drier and brighter by the afternoon, with lighter winds.

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