As ice and snow set to hit region

DRIVERS and pedestrians have been urged to take care after a yellow warning for ice and snow was issued for the Bristol region – with fears there could be worse to come in the weeks ahead.

The Met Office said yesterday the cold snap due to hit at 5pm yesterday could bring treacherous travel conditions that could last until midnight tonight.

It said: “Icy stretches are likely to form, perhaps leading to some disruption to travel with snow falling for some places.”

The warning said some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces may occur, and adds: “There will probably be some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

“Some roads and railways are likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.”

Earlier this week, the Met Office started warning more cold weather is on its way to the area.

And weather watchers have predicted a sudden stratospheric warming (SWW) event over the North Pole this week will increase the odds of a deep freeze over the next fortnight.

This SSW is “potentially the most dangerous kind” according to researchers and is what triggered the 2018 Beast from the East which saw the mercury plummet to -15c in parts of the UK.

Sudden stratospheric warmings occur up to 30 miles above Earth and can bring very cold weather, which can trigger massive snowstorms.

In 2018, the Beast from the East brought freezing cold from Siberia to Britain, causing widespread chaos as snowstorms left drivers stranded on roads for hours, schools were shut and flights were grounded.

Almost 20 deaths were attributed to the cold and snowy conditions.

The Beast from the East hit about two weeks after the sudden stratospheric warming event.

Ambulance services have urged people to plan their journeys ahead of setting off and to wrap up warm to ease pressures on emergency services.