A weather warning for ice is in place until 10am today.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for icy conditions from midnight yesterday.
Icy patches are expected to form overnight into this morning and could lead to disruption.
Cumbria police have urged people to take care on the roads.
They say conditions may be hazardous.
Police advised:
- Driving: Slow down, allow extra time, and keep a safe distance.
- Pavements: Surfaces may be slippery – wear suitable footwear.
- Frozen water: Stay off lakes, rivers, and ponds.
- Check on vulnerable people: Make sure friends, family, and neighbours are safe and warm.
Officers urged drivers to drive according to the road and weather conditions.
- Allow yourself extra time to defrost your car in the morning and remember to stay with your vehicle while your windscreen defrosts.
- Leave extra time for travel – and always drive according to the conditions and any advice given out on road signs
- Be aware of weather weather warnings and drive with caution
- Take care when walking outside – paths may be slippery
Fell roads are still closed in north and West Cumbria.
Cold Fell Road, Corney Fell, Hardknott Pass and Honister Pass are closed due to icy conditions.
Storm Goretti is approaching the UK – although is expected to hit the Midlands, Wales and the south of the country.
What should I expect?
- Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
- Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths
Pressure on hospitals
Health bosses said they have seen an increase in falls as a result of the icy weather, which is putting hospital services under pressure.
The North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust, which runs the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven and Carlisle’s Cumberland infirmary plus community hospitals, has urged people to take care and consider if they need to go out during this cold snap.
Dr Louise Buchanan, medical director, said: “We have seen almost triple the number of people with fractured hips over the past week compared to what we usually would expect.
“We are also seeing other falls-related injuries and people with respiratory issues flared up by the cold conditions.
“Please check on family members, friends and neighbours who are elderly or frail and encourage them to stay indoors and keep warm.”
Current waiting times at A&E departments at the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital are over four hours.
Why should I care about weather warnings?
Weather warnings are issued to let people know what weather is in store for their area and what its impact could be.
The Met Office is the UK’s official weather service and is responsible for issuing weather warnings to the public.There are three main levels of weather warning:
- Yellow – which asks people to be prepared for disruption
- Amber – which asks people to change plans that could be impacted by the weather and take action to protect themselves and their property
- Red – which is issued for weather that poses a danger to life and asks people to immediately take direct action to keep themselves and others safe from impacts of the weather
Yellow and amber warnings represent a range of impact levels and likelihoods. This means it is important for people to read each warning to know what level of impact to expect in their local area – and how likely those impacts are to occur.
The Met Office began issuing ‘impact-based’ warnings in 2011 – which means that warnings are issued when the weather may have an impact on people’s day to day lives.
Previous to this, warnings were issued to the public when certain weather thresholds or levels were reached.
Impact-based warnings take multiple factors into account – these include time of day, if it may impact traffic, time of year, if the weather is unusual, if there are any seasonal events taking place and if the area is well equipped to deal with the weather.
Each warning level is designed to help people take steps to minimise the chances of disruption in their lives.
