Cold spell set to last and snow possible

The Met Office has said the Fylde coast should brace itself for yet more icy spells as temperatures could plummet below zero overnight.

But there is some chance of snow settling on the lower grounds of the coast, as forecast rain will hit low air temperatures.

And behind that there is expected to eventually be milder weather.

Krista Mitchell, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Today will see a dry and clear start with good spells of sunshine but we’re expecting to see cloud thickening in the late afternoon and into evening there’ll be outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow pushing in.

“Most of the accumulation of snow will be on higher ground, but we wouldn’t rule it out for lower ground to get a fewcentimetres because the rain coming is running in to colder air.

“This is down to a front pushing into cold air across the country, creating snow.”

The winds of up to 70mph which battered the coastline last week are gone for now though, at least.

The meteorologist added: “The winds won’t be anything like on the scale as those winds last week.

“It is likely to stay cold for the rest of the week and we’re expecting another spell of rain on Friday but some milder conditions behind that.”

Gritting lorries from local authorities have been out in force salt spreading on key routes across Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “We have weather predictions of ice and temperatures falling well below freezing.

“We will be applying precautionary salt to all priority routes.

“Please take extra care when driving.”

And Blackpool Council continues ‘Operation Snowdrop’, to grit a primary salting network and secondary salting network, where needed.