Warning as heavy snow on the way

Buy photos »

A SEVERE weather warning has been issued for heavy snow and plunging temperatures which could blanket Redditch.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning with up to 25cm of snow potentially falling on higher ground on Friday (January 18).

Even at low levels 15cm is expected with the potential for major disruption to the transport and road network.

The amount of snow predicted is similar to that which fell the week before Christmas 2010, bringing the borough to a grinding halt and costing the county's economy at least £15million.

A spokesman from the Met Office said a weather front with lots of moisture moving in from the Atlantic would clash with the cold air currently sitting over the country resulting in heavy snowfall.

The first flakes are expected to fall on Thursday night with the heaviest flurries between 6am and 3pm on Friday.

The weekend should be drier with some snow showers, but forecasters say there could be even more snow on Sunday night and into Monday.

Temperatures are unlikely to get above freezing during the day and drop to minus six in built up areas overnight and could fall further in rural parts.

Jon Fraser, the county council's customer and community manager for highways, said: "Forecasts do currently indicate there's the potential for significant snowfall overnight Thursday and Friday Morning.

"As is always the case we'll be in close contact with the MET Office monitoring weather conditions and our gritting teams will be on standby day and night ready to roll out to treat designated routes across Worcestershire to help motorists.

"Our fleet is now fitted with innovative technonlogy using brine solution which allows grit to work more effectively and depots are fully stocked with salt so the crews are ready to add to the tens of thousands of miles they've already clocked up this winter season.

"The message to drivers is still the same but no less important. Grit has never been and will never be a miracle cure. It's never safe to assume you can travel at normal speeds even if you think a road has been treated with salt. Please take care, slow down and drive according to the conditions."

Regional news »