Travel disruption expected as region set to be battered by wind and snow

Almost every part of the country is covered by at least one of the multiple weather warnings that have been issued by the Met Office between Monday and Thursday.

The Met Office is predicting strong winds with gusts of up to 50 to 60mph possible over high ground between 11am and 6pm on Monday (December 30). 

The forecaster said westerly winds will be strong and gusty at times, which may lead to some disruption across the region. 

It has warned that some bus and train services may be affected, while delays to road and rail transport are likely with some journeys taking longer.

Forecasters say rain travelling east on Thursday (January 1) is likely to turn to snow as it moves into cold air across the North, with the warning in place from 9am until 3am on Friday. 

The Met Office is also predicting that there could be 2-5cm of snow, and locally nearer 10cm, widely, with 10-15 cm (and locally 20-25cm) over hills. 

The yellow weather warning covers Darlington, County Durham, Teesside, Newcastle, Sunderland, and Northumberland. 

There is a small chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected due to the snow, with a chance that some rural communities could become cut off.

There is also a small chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel. 

The forecaster says: “A band of rain in association with a deep low pressure system moving in from the west pushes east on Wednesday.

“This is likely to turn to snow as it moves into cold air across the northern half of the UK. 2-5 cm and locally nearer 10 cm of snow accumulations are possible widely, with 10-15 cm and locally 20-25 cm over hills with significant drifting due to strong winds.”

The snow warning follows a foggy weekend for weather across the region, with thick fog seeing flights diverted and delayed at Teesside Airport and other airports across the UK.