The Midlands is facing a fresh weather alert as the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice, with temperatures expected to plummet to sub-zero levels overnight.
Warning Details and Affected Areas
The official alert is in force from 10pm on Saturday, November 29, until 9am on Sunday, November 30. The warning zone encompasses parts of Staffordshire and extends northwards to Cumbria and Northumberland. While Birmingham itself falls just outside the immediate warning area, the entire region is braced for a sharp chill.
The forecaster has explicitly warned that icy stretches could cause some disruption during this period. This follows rainfall earlier in the evening, which, combined with surface temperatures falling widely below freezing, is expected to form ice on untreated surfaces.
Risks and Potential Hazards
The Met Office has highlighted the significant risk of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces. The public is being urged to take extra care as some icy patches are anticipated on untreated roads, pavements, and cycle paths, creating hazardous travelling conditions.
Weather maps from WX Charts indicate that temperatures could drop to -1°C in certain places within the region. Even in areas like Birmingham, which are not under the formal warning, temperatures are forecast to hover around a chilly 2°C.
Weekend Weather Forecast
The broader forecast for tonight suggests that rain will clear into the North Sea, leaving drier conditions and clear spells behind. This will lead to a widespread frost and the development of icy stretches across the region.
Looking ahead to Sunday, the Met Office predicts a drier, brighter, and chillier day. Winds are expected to ease in the east, with showers mainly confined to the north and west. Conditions are set to turn cloudier across Northern Ireland later, with rain arriving by evening.
