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Heavy snow, freezing rain and icy surfaces are likely to cause disruption over the next three days in Preston, according to warnings from the Met Office.
Preston is subject to three weather warnings covering the vast majority of the weekend with the most serious now upgraded to amber. The first, for ice, runs from 4pm today (3 January) until 10am tomorrow (4 January) and warns of icy surfaces leading to difficult travel conditions.
That warning is similar to the ice warnings that were issued for both Wednesday and Thursday evening as temperatures fell below freezing. The same conditions are expected tonight.
Read more: D’Urton Lane closed overnight after car crashes into telegraph pole in icy conditions
A previously issued yellow weather warning for snow is still in place for Preston from midday on Saturday until midnight on Sunday (5 January).
But an amber warning issued on Friday morning for snow will also cover Preston from 9pm on Saturday until midnight on Sunday and said that snow is now ‘expected to lead to disruption’.
It states that much of the warning area – which includes Preston – can expect between 3-7cm of snow before it begins to clear by the end of Sunday.
Travel is likely to be difficult during this period, according to the Met Office.
A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Snow will reach the south of the warning area later Saturday, then spread north across the rest of the area through Sunday morning. Snow will be persistent and heavy at times, and will likely drift in brisk easterly winds, especially over higher ground.
“Much of the warning area can expect 3-7 cm of snow. Areas above about 150 m will likely see 15-30 cm, with 40 cm for ground above 300 m, before snow begins to ease and clear by the end of Sunday. For some lower-lying areas, such as the Vale of York, snow may mix with rain at times making estimations of snow depths here more difficult. Regardless, travel will likely be difficult, with power line icing an additional impact.”
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