County Council update of refuse and winter mainenance:
Please find below a brief update on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning actions and the weather forecast for Wednesday 6 January to Thursday 7 January 2010.
12.00 Tuesday 5 January to 08.00 Wednesday 6 January 2010
Yesterday afternoon was mostly cloudy with snow showers. The snow showers continued overnight, heavy at times. RSTs below zero.
Northern Area – More snow fell than forecast on 5 Jan. Coastal area got quite heavy snowfall especially between 1330 and 1530. The central area then got a very heavy snow shower around 1530 and for a period roads were at a standstill or were moving very slowly.
Up to midnight the snow showers continued mainly in the coastal and central area giving around 100mm of snow. Crews continued to work shifts and through continuous working and use of additional tractor ploughs teams managed to keep on top of the situation.
After midnight the snow largely stopped in the coastal area but we got significantly more in the Low Pennine area where we have had up to 150mm more snow in some areas. Tractor ploughs were brought in as well as extra drivers to clear the snow hills route (Lanchester/Stanley/Annfield Plain hill areas). Conditions this morning are described as passable with extreme care.
Southern Area – Up to 180 mm of snow on highest routes. Many of these routes very difficult and narrow in places or closed.
Low ground routes reported as passable with care.
Work continued overnight, mostly ploughing.
12.00 Wednesday 6 January to 12.00 Thursday 7 January 2010
A few snow showers are likely through the rest of this morning giving a light covering locally, but these will be increasingly well-scattered. Sunny spells developing. Snow showers are increasingly likely through the afternoon and evening, giving 2-3cm in places. RSTs will struggle to rise above zero today and will soon fall back below during the afternoon. Overnight, clear spells with scattered snow showers continuing. A further 2-3cm is possible, although confidence is fairly low on this. RSTs well below zero with ice likely. Tomorrow morning will see sunny spells and a few further snow showers.
Actions
Northern Area – Work will continue today to try and improve conditions and plough out additional widths of road. Will also try and work on Priority 2 routes when Priority 1 routes clear.
Southern Area – Work is ongoing to try and keep major routes open.
Roads Closed
C20 Meadows Edge C27 Harthope
C77 West Blackdene to Rookhope Unc 16.2 Rookhope to Blanchland
C78 North of Westgate C21 Rookhope
C28 Swinhope B6278 Stanhope-Eggleston (Shaftwell Head)
B6277 closed beyond Harwood C29 Middle end to Middleton
C166 closed in North Yorkshire
Streetscene and refuse
Sedgefiedl/Wear Valley/Teesdale – All collections suspended due to weather conditions. Available staff to work on snow clearing.
Chester-le-Street/Derwentside – All collections suspended due to weather conditions. Available staff to work on snow clearing.
Easington – All collections suspended.
Durham – At present some collections being carried out but only where safe to do so.
Winter Weather Information
http://www.durham.gov.uk/Pages/Service.aspx?Serviceld=929