Red warning for high winds puts council teams at the ready

A RED warning for exceptionally high winds in the area this evening has been issued by the MET Office – seeing Oldham Council’s Environmental Services and Highways Operations teams leap into standby.

Gusts between 70-90mph on higher ground are expected across the North West, with the worst period of wind between 5pm-7pm before easing off after midnight.

Environmental Services and Highways Operations teams are on standby in in close communication with colleagues working in First Response.

And with bad weather expected to arrive with the winds, Craig Dale, from Highways Operations and Fleet Management, confirmed two gritters are patrolling trans Pennine routes, with a full grit planned for high level primary routes this afternoon and all other actions determined by prevailing conditions.

He said cloud, wind and rain will spread throughout the afternoon at low levels, but a risk of some sleet or wet snow still above 300m.

The snow line is expected to gradually rise through the afternoon, so snow will turn to sleet or rain. Accumulations of 1-2cm are possible above 300m before melting as snow transitions to rain.

There will be a brief clearance towards the end of the afternoon before further showers or longer spells of precipitation later on, falling as a mix of sleet or wet snow to low levels but with snow above 200m.

It will be very windy as well this evening and for the first part of tonight with westerly gales, gusting ‘severe gale’ to ‘storm force’ for a time and leading to blizzards.

Winds will ease overnight but will be still quite gusty in any showers. There could be accumulations of 2-5cm of level snow possible above 300m but this drifting in the wind into snow banks.

Then there will be quite a lengthy dry period expected from midnight to mid-morning, with further showers expected from about 7am, perhaps of snow. Further accumulations of 1-2cm possible above 300m.

Residents are urged to take extra precautions to prevent damage to life and property and are asked to look out for vulnerable neighbours.