Snow falls in the West Midlands as Met Office issues yellow weather warning for snow and ice
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice with the risk of "potentially significant" disruption in the West Midlands.
Snow has been falling in the Black Country and Birmingham after temperatures plummeted, and is predicted throughout the region for the rest of the day.
Temperatures in the Black Country and Staffordshire are set to remain at about 0C throughout Wednesday (though wind chill means it will feel several degrees below freezing) according to the Met Office forecast for the West Midlands.
On Wednesday morning the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice covering the West Midlands including Staffordshire and the Black Country, to last until 7am on Thursday.
The weather warning says: "Spells of snow and icy patches may cause travel disruption during Wednesday into Thursday morning.
"Possible travel delays on roads stranding some vehicles and passengers.
"Bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled, with some road closures and longer journey times possible.
"Some rural communities could become temporarily cut off.
"Power cuts may occur and other services may be temporarily affected.
"Untreated pavements and cycle paths might be impassable with a chance of injuries from slips and falls on snow-covered or icy surfaces."
National Highways, which manages motorways and major A roads, issued a severe weather alert for the South East and South West between midday on Wednesday and 3am on Thursday, and for the West Midlands and East between 3pm on Wednesday and midnight.
The Government-owned company warned that driving conditions will be “extremely difficult, especially for larger vehicles and those not equipped with four-wheel drive”.
Drivers were warned to expect “possible travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers”, while “some rural communities could become temporarily cut off”.
Councils are also gritting local roads and pavements in a bid to ensure people can keep moving.
David Renard, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: “As temperatures plummet once again, councils are ready to work around the clock to grit roads and pavements to make sure that people are kept safe and local communities can get out and about.
“Councils have stockpiled 1.4 million tonnes of salt and are using new and innovative technologies where they can to ensure those areas that are most treacherous are kept clear and safe for use.”
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “While we saw an increase in breakdowns in a zone that stretched from London west along the M4 corridor and into Wales earlier this morning, based on our breakdown volumes it seems drivers in many snow-affected areas are choosing to work from home today and not get in their cars in the first place.”
A Met Office yellow weather warning for heavier snow is to kick in from 3am on Thursday.
The later warning for heavy snow, due to last until Friday afternoon, says: "Heavy snow has the potential to cause significant disruption on Thursday and Friday.
"There is a small chance that long delays and cancellations on bus, rail and air travel could occur.
"There is a slight chance that roads may become blocked by deep snow, with many stranded vehicles and passengers.
"There is a small chance that communities could be cut off for several days.
"There is a small chance that long interruptions to power supplies and other services, such as gas, water, telephone and mobile phone coverage, may occur."
