Met Office hits Cheshire with 14-hour snow warning

Wintry conditions are set to sweep across the UK today

Meteorologists have issued parts of Cheshire with a snow warning. The alert comes as the UK is braced for wintry weather today as forecasters have warned of conditions from the Atlantic 'bumping' into cold air over the country triggering snowfalls.

Now a yellow warning for snow is in parts of South Cheshire including Nantwich, Crewe, Alsager and the outskirts of Congleton and Macclesfield. Meanwhile officials with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have issued a yellow cold health alert for the Cheshire that kicked in at 6pm yesterday and will last through to 6pm on February 20.

Meanwhile the yellow warning for snow is set to come in at 4pm this afternoon, lasting until 6am tomorrow. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steven Keates said: “On Wednesday, weather fronts are expected to move in from the Atlantic into some western, southern and central areas of the UK. As they bump into the cold air already in place, we are likely to see some snow developing, although there is still some uncertainty around the details.

“Initially, we may see some snow over the highest parts of southern England, such as Dartmoor, but the main chance of snow will be across higher parts of the Midlands and mid and southeast Wales. Above 150 to 200 metres, 2–5 cm of snow may accumulate, with a few places-most likely above 300 metres-possibly seeing 10 cm or more.

“Some small accumulations are also likely over the Chilterns and perhaps Salisbury Plain. Falling snow to lower elevations in this general area is possible too, though accumulating snow is less likely.

“Across southern England, rain will be the main focus, with 10 to 20 mm falling quite widely during Wednesday and into early Thursday, and a few spots, such as Dartmoor, quite possibly seeing double that amount. Strong east to northeast winds will accompany the wet weather.

“Temperatures will be around 3 to 5 °C for much of the UK on Wednesday (away from the far southwest). A sharp frost is likely across parts of Scotland into Wednesday morning, with some further frost and ice in places overnight into Thursday.”

The Met Office is currently forecasting sleet in Crewe from 5pm this evening through to 2am tomorrow. Meanwhile Macclesfield could see light snow from 5pm until 8pm and then heavy snow through to 10pm. It will then turn light until 1am when sleet will fall.

In the north of the county and around Ellesmere Port light rain is expected from 3pm through to 8pm when sleet will fall through to 2am.

NEWSLETTER: Sign up for CheshireLive email direct to your inbox here