Met Office issues ice and rain warnings as Lancashire faces hazardous conditions this weekend
Lancashire is set for a spell of disruptive weather this weekend and early next week, with the Met Office issuing two yellow warnings for ice and rain across the county.
A yellow ice warning will be in force from 10pm on Saturday, November 29, until 9am on Sunday, November 30.
It will cover central and eastern Lancashire, including Preston, Chorley, Leyland, Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Pendle, Lancaster, Longridge and the Ribble Valley.
Forecasters say icy stretches could develop overnight as temperatures fall below freezing following earlier rainfall.
A Met Office spokesman said: “Following rainfall earlier in the evening, surface temperatures are expected to fall widely below freezing.
“With surfaces left wet, ice is expected to form on untreated surfaces and may lead to hazardous travelling conditions.”
Drivers and pedestrians are being warned to expect slips and falls, icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, and potentially hazardous travel early on Sunday.
The icy conditions will be followed by a yellow rain warning, which comes into force at midnight on Monday, December 1, and remains in place until 3am on Tuesday, December 2.
This second warning covers most of Lancashire except Blackpool and Lytham St Annes.
Heavy rain is expected to bring disruption on Monday and into the early hours of Tuesday, with the risk of flooding, longer journey times on roads and public transport and possible interruptions to power supplies.
A Met Office spokesman added: “An area of heavy rain will move steadily east across the area during Monday. Whilst the rain may ease for a time during the afternoon across Cumbria, another pulse of heavy rain is possible here during the evening and overnight, with all rain eventually clearing early Tuesday morning.”
Forecasters say 20–40mm of rain is likely across much of the warning area, rising to 50–80mm on higher ground and potentially 100–120mm over the Cumbrian fells.
Strong south to southwesterly winds could also bring gales around coasts and upland areas.