The Beast From The East is about to hit Wokingham – and the Met Office is warning that significant amounts of snow could fall next week.
However, there is uncertainty about when it will happen, how much snow will fall and which parts of the country would be affected.
As we revealed last week, a blast of cold air from the North Pole is due to hit the UK from today. Temperatures will drop significantly from Sunday and the conditions are perfect for potential heavy snow.
Current forecasts suggest that the south could start to see significant amounts of snow from Tuesday evening, continuing for much of the rest of the week. However, The Met Office is not certain and some forecasts show that Wokingham will miss out.
Other forecasts suggest a possibility of snow from the weekend – the South East currently has a Yellow Snow warning issued for Monday, but this does NOT include Berkshire.
Snow or no snow, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service are warning residents to be prepared for cold weather conditions: with temperatures below freezing at night and barely above freezing during the day, driving will be interesting.
In a statement issued today, they are urging residents to take care when trying to stay warm or when travelling.
Group Manager Tregear Thomas said: “The temperature is reported to be significantly dropping over the coming days and into next week.
“With this in mind, residents trying to warm up may be tempted to use portable heaters or electric blankets but should always be mindful that if not used correctly, they can pose an increased risk of fire.
“We want to encourage our residents to follow our safety advice to help prevent an incident from occurring in the first place, whether that be in the home or when travelling.”
And they have offered some advice to anyone travelling:
Top tips to prevent incidents occurring when travelling or in the event of a breakdown or emergency:
Before making your journey:
- Consider whether your journey is absolutely necessary and only travel if it is essential.
- Check local TV, radio and internet for weather and traffic reports before travelling.
- Pack plenty of warm clothing and drinks in your vehicle, including hot drinks in a flask, if possible.
- It is useful to have a red reflective warning triangle in the vehicle in the event of a breakdown.
- Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged, but DO NOT use it whilst driving.
- Make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure and in good working order.
- Make sure the brakes are in good order and checked regularly.
- Make sure the heater and demisting system in the vehicle is in good working order.
- Make sure your car is fuelled and that oil, brake fluid and windscreen washer levels are full.
When driving:
- High winds can affect the handling of your vehicle and sudden gusts can happen without warning – keep a good grip on the steering wheel and take great care when overtaking high sided vehicles.
- Driving in adverse weather conditions can be stressful and tiring – if you feel tired, take a break.
- Allow more time for braking in snow, icy and rainy conditions.
- Allow more room between yourself and other vehicles – this will give you greater braking times and distances.
- In an emergency, always call 999.
