North East snow and rain warning issued for weekend with 29-hour alert in force
Another weather warning has been issued for the North East with more snow on the way for the region that could lead to some disruption this weekend.
The Met Office has put a 29-hour Yellow warning in place for snow and rain across the whole North East region, including Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland and County Durham, from 4am on Saturday, November 23 until 9am on Sunday, November 24. Heavy snow on Saturday followed by a rapid thaw and subsequent rain on Saturday night could cause travel delays, flooding and power cuts, forecasters warned.
The warning also covers the majority of Scotland and extends west into the Lake District as well as down the country as far as Leeds, Sheffield and part of Nottingham. Anyone planning to travel over the weekend has been urged to check and amend their plans if necessary, as the heavy snow and rain may spark road closures and public transport cancellations.
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Explaining the reasoning behind the warning, the Met Office said: "Outbreaks of rain will spread north-eastwards on Saturday, preceded by a spell of snow across parts of northern England and Scotland. Whilst snow will become increasingly confined to higher elevations with time, there is the chance of a transient period of snow to low levels in some areas, with perhaps as much as 5-10 cm accumulating in places, especially the Vale of York, before turning back to rain."
Forecasters added that temporary snow accumulations of 10-20 cm are possible on ground above 150m, with perhaps as much as 20-40 cm above 300m. There is a "small chance" that power cuts could occur and some rural communities could become cut off by the wintry weather, the Met Office cautioned.
The warning continues: "In conjunction with strengthening winds, difficult driving conditions are likely, especially over higher level routes, with possibly some interruptions to power supplies. In addition, the rapid thaw of lying snow as milder air arrives, with perhaps an additional 20-40 mm of rain in some upland areas during Saturday night, will lead to a greater likelihood of rainfall impacts later in the period."
The snow melt combined with heavy rain means there is a risk of homes and businesses being flooded, the Met Office said, while a "danger to life" warning has been issued for potentially fast-flowing or deep floodwater. In addition, train, bus and air services could see delays or cancellations, while spray and flooding may lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.
Those in the warning area have been advised to stay up to date with the latest forecast where they live.