Drivers’ new ice peril

Coldest night of the year will leave our roads deadly, AA warns

DRIVERS face a new level of peril this morning as more snow falls on top of already icy roads, forecasters have warned.

The alert was issued ahead of what was expected to be the coldest night of the year, with temperatures plunging to -13C (9F) in some parts of Britain.

swathes of the country are expected to wake to a blanket of snow up to 6in thick today, with those in the Pennine region seeing the worst of it. There are fears that some rural communities may be completely cut off.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for snow over parts of northern England, with a wider yellow warning for southern and eastern scotland and the Midlands. A yellow warning has also been issued for ice across England.

The heavy snow will make already icy roads even more treacherous, with the AA warning that drivers face their ‘sternest test’ if they attempt to set out on ungritted local roads.

Highways England urged motorists to pack blankets, food, water and a shovel if they really need to travel. And the Met Office said the snowfall is also likely to affect railway lines and airports – causing cancellations and throwing schedules into disarray.

Forecaster Nicky Maxey said: ‘The snow will be falling on icy surfaces from the early hours of Friday. It’s likely to cause disruption to roads and rail and people should think about allowing extra time for travel.’

Last night temperatures in parts of scotland were predicted to sink below the - 13C ( 9F) seen at shawbury in shropshire earlier this month.

Freezing conditions were also expected in England and Wales, with lows of -5C (23F) in London and -7C (19F) in Hereford, and even colder temperatures forecast in rural areas.

AA president Edmund King said: ‘This morning, drivers face their sternest test. snow at the start of the day has been a particularly nasty feature of the cold spell this Christmas but tomorrow’s rushhour snow adds a new level of difficulty. snow on ice can catch out even the wary and those who think their vehicles can handle any road conditions.’ Chris Chadwick, emergency planning officer at Highways England, said: ‘Gritters are out treating our routes around the clock but it is still important to drive to the conditions when snow is forecast.

‘If you need to travel in the morning, make sure you keep your distance and reduce your speed because, even in conditions that seem normal and the snow is not settling, it can be slippery if ice patches have formed, or where fresh salt has not been worked into the carriageway.’

Icy conditions throughout the week have already caused travel disruption for thousands, hitting commuters returning to work after Christmas. The RAC said yesterday’s icy roads caused an ‘incredibly busy’ morning, while the AA said it received 8,000 calls for rescue by lunchtime alone due to the ‘appalling’ condition of the country’s roads.

Forecasters say the weekend will bring a respite from the wintry blast, with milder conditions expected.

But New Year’s Eve celebrations on sunday could be blighted by strong winds and showers.