Met Office Issues Yellow Ice Alert for West Midlands and Multiple UK Regions
The Met Office has issued a yellow ice warning for an area in the West Midlands, specifically targeting Staffordshire, along with 60 other regions across the United Kingdom. This alert is in effect from 6pm on Monday, February 16, until 10am on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Weather Conditions and Hazards
According to the national weather service, clearing skies following periods of rain, sleet, and hill snow on Monday night are expected to create icy patches into Tuesday. While some patchy accumulations of snow may occur, particularly on ground above 150-200 meters elevation, ice is identified as the greater hazard as temperatures drop rapidly after the showers clear.
In addition, strong north-westerly winds are forecasted along some North Sea coasts later in the night and into Tuesday morning, potentially exacerbating conditions.
Public Safety Concerns
The Met Office has warned residents to be cautious, anticipating injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces. Icy patches are likely on untreated roads, pavements, and cycle paths, posing risks to pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists alike. The public is advised to take extra precautions during this period.
Affected Regions
The yellow ice warning covers a wide range of areas across the UK, including:
- Central, Tayside & Fife: Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling
- East Midlands: Derby, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland
- East of England: Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk, Peterborough, Suffolk
- 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: Blackburn with Darwen, Cheshire East, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire
- SW Scotland, Lothian Borders: Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, West Lothian
- Strathclyde: Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire
- West Midlands: Staffordshire
- Yorkshire & Humber: East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, York
Residents in these areas are urged to stay updated with local weather reports and travel advisories to ensure safety during the warning period.
