Snow ands ice warning in place for Flintshire until Sunday

A number of weather warnings are in place across the country for wintry hazards as the cold weather continues into next week.

The UK will stay cold through the weekend and next week with the risk of sleet and snow at times continuing, with overnight frosts, severe at times.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather alert for snow and ice in Flintshire this weekend.

Initially, an alert for icy conditions was in place locally, overnight the Met Office added a warning for snow across north Wales and Cheshire until 12pm on Sunday.

The first snow of winter arrived in Flintshire on Friday with a dusting around Holywell and Caerwys.

Weather radar maps show sleet and potentially snow on higher ground on Saturday afternoon.

Temperatures in Flintshire will reach around 3º during Saturday, dropping back to -1º overnight.

Little bit of snow in Holywell pic.twitter.com/oKefoUAQZA

— DEESIDE.com (@DeesideDotCom) December 9, 2022

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Steve Willington, said: “It is staying cold with daytime temperatures remaining only a few degrees above freezing in many places over the coming days and overnight temperatures dropping to -10°C or lower in isolated spots.

Although below average, these temperatures are not that unusual for this time of year.”

The cold air from the Arctic is also bringing brighter conditions for many, with some dry and sunny weather, particularly away from coasts.

The RAC says it sees a sharp increase in the volume of breakdowns when the weather turns cold, “so it’s well worth taking the time to ensure you carry out the right checks on your car.”

“Any underlying mechanical issues could escalate as temperatures plummet.” The motoring organisation has said.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “With temperatures plummeting this week, many drivers might be taken aback by the cold after an exceptionally mild autumn.

“Our advice is to be winter ready – check tyres are properly inflated and with good tread, while topping up oil, coolant and screen wash levels if needed.”

⚠️POOR CONDITIONS.

Poor driving conditions in the North-East of Wales this morning.

Allow additional time for your journey and slow down.

Drive to the conditions. pic.twitter.com/YsZ2AqCbiH

— Traffic Wales North & Mid (@TrafficWalesN) December 10, 2022

“Drivers with older batteries in their cars might also wish to give their vehicle a 20-minute drive before colder conditions arrive to ensure the battery can cope with sub-zero temperatures. It’s also worth having a fully-charged mobile phone and carrying a blanket in case of a breakdown to keep warm.”

For more advice on driving in cold weather, the RAC has a dedicated section on its website here.