Warning: Yellow

To expect: Ice

Affected areas: East Midlands, North East England, North West England, Yorkshire and Humber

Start time estimate: Thursday 4am

End time estimate: Thursday 10am

The Met Office has announced a Yellow ice alert for several areas across the UK for Thursday.

The warning is covering parts of East Midlands, North East England, North West England, Yorkshire and Humber. All local areas affected are listed below.

On Thursday, a Yellow weather warning is in effect from 4am until 10am. The forecast suggests the regions concerned will experience slick conditions due to ice formation.

The Yellow alert for ice was announced at 11:43am on Wednesday, March 12.

A Met Office forecast said: “Showers will continue at times through Wednesday and Wednesday night, these falling as sleet or hail at times, and perhaps temporarily as snow over hills. Clear spells in between will allow temperatures to fall close to zero, with some untreated surfaces turning icy later tonight and at first on Thursday, especially over the Pennines and Peak District.”

What to expect

Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths. leading to a greater chance of injuries or accidents.

What should you do?

Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. Not needing to rush, reduces your risk of accidents, slips, and falls. If you need to make a journey on foot, 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. Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary. Be prepared for weather warnings to change: the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area. For further details see Met Office Warnings & Advice.

Full list of local regions affected

East Midlands
Derbyshire

North East England
Darlington, Durham, Northumberland

North West England
Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire

Yorkshire and Humber
North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire

What is a yellow weather warning?

The Met Office has three categories of weather warning, depending on the likely impact of severe weather and also how likely it is to strike in a particular area.

A yellow warning is issued when weather conditions are expected to disrupt travel and traffic and may impact on daily routines but are not likely to pose a risk to life or property.

An amber warning is more severe and advises people to think about changing their plans to minimise the risk.

A red warning means weather conditions are expected to be dangerous with widespread damage to property and a risk to life, with the public usually advised to avoid travelling.

The Yellow weather alert for ice will remain in place until 10am on Thursday.