Drivers are urged to take care on the roads this morning as temperatures drop in Cumbria.
Gritters have been out in force to treat the county’s networks and it was predicted that temperatures would drop as low as -10.5 degrees overnight in some parts of Cumbria.
Cumbria police said: “Freezing temperatures are expected. Please drive according to the road and weather conditions, especially in rural areas.
“Allow yourself extra time to defrost your car in the morning and remember to stay with your vehicle while your windscreen defrosts and allow extra time for journeys.”
Several Lake District passes are closed due to snow – Honister Pass, Cold Fell, Hardnott Pass, Newlands Pass and Wrynose Pass are all off limits to drivers.
Westmorland & Furness Council said its crews were out treating priority roads in preparation for the freezing temperatures.
However, it issued a warning. It said: “Although we prepare the network as best we can using real-time data from our weather stations, the temperatures that are expected will make it challenging for grit to work its magic.
“While grit remains very effective down to -5 degrees, it becomes less effective below that point.
“To compensate, we are increasing our spreading to maximise the effectiveness in these extremely cold conditions.
“Remember, grit only works once it’s been crushed by moving vehicles or pedestrians which turn it into an ice-melting solution.
“If you’re traveling in the early hours when temperatures are at their lowest, please drive with extra caution.
“We also encourage you to keep an eye out for icy patches where water runoff from surrounding land may have washed grit off a freshly treated road.”
Each route takes up to five hours to be gritted.
Cumberland Council said it would be another very cold night tonight with long clear periods.
Ice will continue to be an issue, together with a light hoar frost. Road surface temperatures are significantly below zero. Dry, sunny and cold this morning, Thursday January 9.
Here’s where Westmorland & Furness Council was gritting yesterday:
Here’s where Cumberland Council was gritting yesterday:
Why isn’t my road being gritted?
Read our handy guide here to how roads are chosen to be gritted and why.
