Update to emergency services and partners advice ahead of amber weather warnings for snow and ice this weekend

Amber warnings for snow and ice were issued by the Met Office for across Greater Manchester this weekend. There is also a new Met Office Weather Warning for Rain for Sunday which currently carries a low risk of flooding in certain areas. This is being monitored. UK weather warnings - Met Office

Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and local councils are preparing for any potential disruption this may cause and are committed to ensuring public safety and minimising the impact on communities.

There is currently a flood warning in place for the Palatine Road area near the Britannia Hotel. There is a small possibility of flooding in this area at around 6am tomorrow (Monday 6 January). To give residents the maximum amount of warning, the Environment Agency is issuing a Flood Warning for this area much sooner than would normally be the case.

Currently the flood risk is low but areas which may be affected are being monitored. These areas include:

• Bramhall
• Sale
• Stockport
• Urmston
• Altrincham
• South Manchester (Didsbury) 

The yellow warning for ice was issued from 4pm on Friday 3 January until 10am Saturday 4 January. This then increased to an amber warning for snow and ice from 6pm on Saturday until 12pm on Sunday 5 January. 

Please only travel if absolutely necessary and protect yourself from the cold weather. If you know someone who is elderly or has restricted mobility, please also look out for them. There are simple things you can do to help those who may find it harder to get out, for example getting essential shopping for them or checking in on them.  

 
Visit the Met Office website for more advice on how to stay safe in the cold weather: 

Travelling in heavy snow and ice - Met Office 

• Ensure your vehicle windows and mirrors are completely free of snow and ice before you set off and take your time, adapting your driving to the conditions. 

• Let someone know where you are going and what time you hope to arrive.  

• Keep an emergency kit or essentials in your car, such as warm clothes, a torch, food, a blanket and non-alcoholic drinks. 

• Ensure your tyres are correctly inflated and have plenty of tread on them. 

• To brake on ice and snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use your brakes gently. 

Warnings issued for cold and wintry weather - Met Office 

• Remember to check in on the elderly and people with limited mobility. You may be able to help by getting essential shopping for people who may find it more difficult to get out and about safely. 

5 tips for staying safe in snow - Met Office 

• Think ahead and get the essentials together that you may need in case you are cut off by snow. This could include food, water, torches, batteries, and blankets. 

Keeping your home warm this winter - Met Office 

• It’s important to keep your home warm to avoid health problems.  

How cold weather affects your health - Met Office 

• Cold temperatures have an impact on our health, but there are other risks in winter including physical injuries from slips, trips and falls.  

• If you are normally healthy, many of the coughs, colds and minor illnesses that seem to happen more frequently during winter can be safely managed yourself. There's plenty of advice about dealing with common winter illnesses from the NHS: Winter vaccinations and winter health - NHS 
  
  

Advice from TFGM 

The A628 will be closed from 10pm Saturday (4 Jan).

If you need to travel, please plan ahead and allow plenty of time for your journey. You can keep an eye on TfGM’s travel alerts here: Travel updates | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM 

 

Advice from Electricity North West during cold weather: 

As the milder air moves in after the snow, a fairly rapid thaw of lying snow is possible later on Sunday, although exactly how far north the rapid thaw will reach remains uncertain at this stage. This may bring an additional flood risk as the snow melt enters already saturated catchments. Please visit this website for latest flood alert information. 

Flooding in your area

• If flooding has affected your area, you can contact Floodline by phone on 0345 988 1188 or by text on 0345 602 6340, or contact your local authority if you have questions.
• You can sign up for flood warnings at gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings
• Anyone with information around any developments or in need of assistance are asked to call 101 quoting log 3258 of 31/12/2024. In an emergency, always dial 999 in the first instance.

During a flood: 

• Make sure any appliances or electrical equipment is switched off. 

• Turn off your power supply by the isolator switch but only if it's safe to do so. 

• Do not touch any electricity points when standing in water. 

• Check any elderly or sick neighbours or relatives to make sure they are safe. 

After a flood: 

• If your supply is still on or has been underwater and comes back on, contact a qualified electrician. 

• If your meter point has been underwater or still have no electricity, please contact us on 105 or report a power cut for us to do a safety check. 

• If you can smell smoke or you are in any doubt, contact a qualified electrician or contact us on 105. 

If you need any additional support go to www.enwl.co.uk/ExtraCare or call Electricity North West on 105.  
 
Please read this Government information for more advice and guidance on staying safe in cold weather snow and ice. 

Read the UKHSA's cold weather communications toolkit for 2024/25. The toolkit relates specifically to cold weather and is intended to provide basic health information during cold spells.