Please find below a brief update of Thursday night/Friday morning actions and the weather forecast for Friday 8 January 2010 along with the 2-5 day forecast.
Thursday 7 January/Friday 8 January
Northern area – A very cold night with RSTs down to -8.5C. Mainly dry and clear overnight but a period of snow between 2200 and 2330 that gave around 5cms in Coastal areas, around 2-3cms in central area and around 1cm in Low Pennine area. Reduced salting lengths based on A and B roads only treated pm and am. Salt applied at 14.00 on 7 January and 5.00 on 8 January 2010.
Southern Area – Yesterday afternoon, there were sunny spells and snow showers, these mostly in the east. Overnight the snow showers spread into some western areas for a time before easing off. RSTs well below zero. Work continued throughout the night. The network was ploughed and treated yesterday in accordance with the revised salting regime. Trailer gritter contractor were used this morning to plough the secondary routes.
Friday 8 January 2010
Snow showers will spread from the northeast through the afternoon, especially across eastern areas where perhaps locally heavy later. This evening and tonight it will remain cold with clear spells and further snow showers, although the most frequent snow showers are expected in the first half of the night. RSTs well below zero with widespread ice. Tomorrow breezy and cold with sunny spells and scattered snow showers. A chance the wind could become strong enough to drift some of the lying snow, especially over the hills.
2-5cm expected from the snow showers through the period, locally more in some eastern areas is possible.
Actions
Northern – All depots to be manned for the next 24 hours.
Southern – Ploughing and gritting to revised regime continuing throughout 24 hour period. Secondary routes to be ploughed from 4 am tomorrow morning. 2 snowblowers widening out roads in Weardale.
Streetscene and Refuse
Refuse/recycling collection: We are collecting rubbish today in Barnard Castle and Chester le Street, using tractors and deployment of clean and green staff to assist with the service.
Footpaths: We are still clearing footpaths in a number of priority areas Doctors Surgeries, shopping Centres etc, and responding where possible to additional concerns.
Building maintenance: Emergency requests for burst pipes, boilers across a wide range of establishments – community centres, schools etc are being addressed.
Roads Closed
C20 Meadows Edge
C77 West Blackdene to Rookhope
C78 North of Westgate
C28 Swinhope
2-5 day forecast
Cold wintry conditions will continue. A strengthening northeast to easterly wind will bring scattered snow showers, some heavy, through to Sunday with drifting of lying snow. On Monday snow showers should become more isolated but there is a risk of more widespread but light snow edging up from the south for a time later Monday/Tuesday. Becoming a little less cold perhaps, but RSTs below zero throughout.
Winter Weather Information