A severe weather alert for the north of England has been issued by Highways England.
Drivers are urged to be prepared as a band of rain and strong wind is set to move east on Thursday morning falling into very cold air which will bring a risk of snow.
National Highways said its gritting teams will be working around the clock to treat roads and keep them free from disruption.
An amber National Highways warning for snow will be in place across these areas between 10am on January 6 and 6pm on January 7.
A statement said: “National Highways routes above 200m are most likely to be affected. This will include routes such as M62 over the Pennines, M6 at Shap and A66 trans-Pennine route.”
Combined with the risk of snow, winds will increase through the late morning seeing gusts of 45-50mph from a southerly direction on any particularly exposed routes, causing drifting snow and temporary blizzard conditions which will make for difficult driving.
National Highways head of road safety, Jeremy Phillips, said: “Gritters are out treating our routes around the clock but it is still important to drive to the conditions when snow is forecast.
“If you need to travel, make sure you keep your distance and reduce your speed because, even in conditions that seem normal and the snow is not settling, it can be slippery if ice patches have formed, or where fresh salt has not been worked into the carriageway.
“Drivers should plan their journeys, monitor weather reports and pack a snow kit of blankets, food, water and a shovel if they really need to travel.”
National Highways said it was strongly advising that travel in these areas is likely to be extended or even disrupted.
Drivers are also advised to take extra care and avoid, if possible, these areas during the severe weather alert.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Thursday from 8pm to Friday at 11am for snow and ice.
It said: “Frequent wintry showers arriving from the west during Thursday evening and overnight are likely to lead to a fresh covering of snow for areas above 200m (mainly around 2cm to 5cm, possibly as much as 10cm over highest ground where showers are most frequent.
“Falling snow below this level may cause some temporary slushy accumulations which then may freeze and cause dangerous, icy patches where skies remain clear for long enough. Winds will be gusty around heavier showers and there is also a risk of lightning strikes from isolated thunderstorms in some coastal districts.”
