New Met Office Weather Warning as Big Freeze Approaches After Snow

Bristol: Tomorrow morning, folks in the South West are in for a slippery surprise. After a day of snow, sleet, and rain, everything’s set to freeze overnight. Roads are going to be pretty dangerous, and some drivers were already stuck for hours today. Schools even closed up early, bracing for more chaos.

The Met Office is sounding the alarm with a yellow weather warning for ice. They’re saying that after all this wet weather, surfaces are likely to freeze up, making things really tricky out there. It’s not just a little frost; we’re talking about icy patches that could catch you off guard.

Today, there were yellow and amber warnings for snow in places like Devon and Somerset. The snow really made a mess of the roads, and while some areas in Somerset were spared, the warnings now stretch to Bristol, Bath, and even Stroud in Gloucestershire.

Temperatures are expected to dip to around -2C in Bristol, and even the usually warmer coastal spots will be feeling the chill. Some areas might see road temps drop to -5C, which is a big heads-up that driving could be hazardous.

The Met Office mentioned that after the rain and snow, surfaces are going to be wet and cold. Some might dry out a bit before freezing, but many untreated areas will likely turn icy overnight. The west will feel it first, while the east might just dodge the worst of it.

In response to the cold snap, Bristol City Council and St Mungos have kicked off a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol. This means they’re ramping up outreach for those sleeping rough, and it’ll be in place until January 10. If you see someone in need, don’t hesitate to help out.

Here’s what you can do: If someone needs urgent help, call 999. If you spot someone rough sleeping, encourage them to reach out to the Outreach team at 0117 4070330. And remember, the website StreetLink isn’t an emergency service, so it’s best to use that number when the weather gets severe.