Storm Bert travel warnings as gritters deployed ahead of freeze before weekend rain onslaught in Gloucestershire

Phil Norris

22 November 2024 at 11:10 am·3-min read

Heavy rain is expected to fall in Gloucestershire this weekend — -Credit: (Image: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

Motorists could face the twin dangers of icy and flooded roads as a challenging weekend of weather kicks off today (Friday, November 22). Gritters are going out on Gloucestershire roads this evening before an expect deluge of rain is set to soak the county on Saturday and Sunday.

The Met Office has issued a Storm Bert severe weather warning for rain in most of Gloucestershire from 6am on Saturday to 11.45pm on Sunday. Localised forecasts show constant rain, most of it heavy, throughout the two days.

Gloucestershire County Council's highways team has issued a warning to drivers to take care on the roads. It said on X: "Storm Bert due across Gloucestershire over the weekend. Please travel with caution due to conditions and ensure you stay safe."

Before the deluge, freezing temperatures could be a problem. The highways team said: "Good Afternoon Gloucestershire, we will be out gritting the network this afternoon from 14:00 in advance of a freeze this evening. Please drive carefully and to the conditions."

The Met Office has issued several weather warnings as Storm Bert is set to bring a “multi-hazard event” to the UK following a cold snap. The storm is expected to reach the UK on Saturday and the Met Office is expecting it to bring “heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the UK through the weekend”, potentially causing travel disruption and flooding.

An amber alert for heavy snow and ice will be in force between 7am and 5pm on Saturday in an area north of Scotland’s central belt, where 10-20cm is likely on ground above 200 metres and potentially as much as 20-40cm on hills above 400 metres. The warning covers parts of Angus, Perth and Kinross, Stirlingshire, Aberdeenshire and some of the Highlands and Argyll and Bute.

Meanwhile, yellow wind, rain and snow warnings cover much of the rest of the UK. Wind warnings cover Scotland from 5am until 7pm on Saturday.

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said Storm Bert was a “multi-hazard event We’re looking at strong winds, some high snowfall accumulation, heavy rain, all in various different parts of the UK,” he said.

“So it’s quite a complex weather set-up for the weekend. Generally speaking, it’s a very unsettled weekend of weather ahead.”

He advised the public to keep an eye on the weather in their areas. “Because of the different nature of the weather across the UK, people really need to have an idea of what the forecast is for them specifically.

“Further south it’s wind and rain, further north it’s snow then rain and wind. So it really depends on where you are in the UK. Keep on top of the forecast for your area, and prepare as necessary.

“Obviously, with snow and ice there could be some pretty tricky conditions, especially in the morning (on Saturday), so if you are going to leave the house pay attention to what’s going on in your area with the local authorities.”

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