The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice across the south-west, as temperatures are expected to plummet to almost freezing overnight.
After the first snowfall of the season was seen across much of Bristol today (November 19), the weather is expected to stay frosty for the rest of the week, not creeping above around 5°C between now and Friday, November 22.
In fact, by 9pm tonight, temperatures are expected to drop to just 1°C – and will stay this cold for several hours, throughout the night and into Wednesday morning.
As a result, a yellow weather warning for ice has been issued between 5pm this afternoon (Tuesday), and 10am tomorrow morning (Wednesday).
Bristolians have been told to expect some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements, and cycle paths, which could lead to injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.
The Met Office has warned: “Rain, sleet and snow will continue to clear southwards across England and Wales with clearing skies to follow. Temperatures are expected to fall below or close to freezing quite widely across the warning area, with icy patches forming on untreated freezing surfaces.”
In order to keep yourself and your loved ones safe during the icy weather, the Met Office advises leaving the house at least five minutes earlier than you need to, so that you are not in a rush and reduce your risk of accidents, slips, or falls.
If you need to make a journey on foot, you should try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery. Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated.
And to give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays, make sure to check road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.
The Met Office’s weather warning is in place across most of the south-west region, including Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.
The full hourly weather forecast during the time the weather warning is in effect is as follows:
- Tuesday, 17.00: 3°C, feels like 0°C, wind gusts of 21mph
- 18.00: 3°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 21mph
- 19.00: 2°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 19mph
- 20.00: 2°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 16mph
- 21.00: 1°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 14mph
- 22.00: 1°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 12mph
- 23.00: 1°C, feels like -2°C, wind gusts of 12mph
- Wednesday, 00.00: 1°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 12mph
- 01.00: 1°C, feels like -2°C, wind gusts of 12mph
- 02.00: 1°C, feels like -2°C, wind gusts of 15mph
- 03.00: 1°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 15mph
- 04.00: 1°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 16mph
- 05.00: 1°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 15mph
- 06.00: 2°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 15mph
- 07.00: 2°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 15mph
- 08.00: 2°C, feels like -1°C, wind gusts of 17mph
- 09.00: 3°C, feels like 0°C, wind gusts of 19mph
- 10.00: 3°C, feels like 1°C, wind gusts of 20mph
The Met Office also has some top tips here for staying safe in icy conditions.