The Met Office has issued a stark warning for a rare and dangerous weather phenomenon set to hit parts of the UK, putting 26 specific areas on high alert for treacherous 'black ice'.
What is freezing rain and why is it so dangerous?
Meteorologists are highlighting the risk of 'freezing rain', an unusual event for the UK where rainfall freezes instantly upon impact with the ground or other surfaces. This process creates a thin, transparent layer of ice known as black ice or glaze, which is exceptionally hazardous as it is nearly invisible and incredibly slippery.
The warning comes as the aftermath of Storm Goretti continues to bring wintry conditions across the country. A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been activated, covering the period from 2am until 2pm on Sunday, January 11.
Regions facing the highest risk
The Met Office has identified a band of rain and snow moving east across Scotland and northern England during Sunday morning. While snow is expected mainly above 200 metres, it could fall to lower levels temporarily, with 2 to 5cm possible in some places. At higher elevations, accumulations of 10 to 20cm are forecast, with strong winds likely to cause drifting.
The most significant hazard, however, is the risk of freezing rain across eastern parts of the warning area for a few hours on Sunday morning. This could lead to widespread ice affecting all surfaces, creating severe travel disruption and dangerous conditions for pedestrians.
The following UK regions and local authorities are affected:
- Central, Tayside & Fife: Angus, Perth and Kinross, Stirling
- Grampian: Aberdeenshire, Moray
- Highlands & Eilean Siar: Highland
- North East England: Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland
- North West England: Cumbria
- SW Scotland, Lothian Borders: Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders
- Strathclyde: Argyll and Bute, South Lanarkshire
- Yorkshire & Humber: North Yorkshire
Public urged to take extreme caution
The Met Office has emphasised that ice from freezing rain is difficult to see and even harder to clear, posing a major risk on roads, pavements, and pathways. Residents in the affected areas are advised to exercise extreme caution if they need to travel, allow extra time for journeys, and consider if their trip is absolutely necessary.
The weather service noted that snow amounts will depend heavily on both elevation and precipitation intensity, meaning conditions could vary dramatically over short distances.
