Midlands Braces for Icy Hazard as Met Office Issues 10-Hour Yellow Warning
Midlands Ice Warning: 10-Hour Met Office Alert

Midlands Braces for Icy Hazard as Met Office Issues 10-Hour Yellow Warning

The Met Office has issued a significant yellow weather warning for ice, set to affect the Midlands and extensive areas across the United Kingdom. The alert highlights the risk of "patchy ice" forming on untreated surfaces, which could lead to dangerous conditions for residents.

Timing and Impact of the Warning

The warning is scheduled to be in effect from midnight until 10:00 AM on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. During this period, clearing skies are expected to cause temperatures to drop below freezing, particularly in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The Met Office has cautioned that this could result in injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces, urging the public to exercise caution.

In their statement, the Met Office explained: "Clearing skies Tuesday night will allow temperatures to fall below freezing soon after midnight and on Wednesday morning. After the recent wet weather, icy patches are likely to develop on some untreated surfaces."

Affected Regions Across the UK

The warning encompasses a wide range of local authorities beyond the Midlands, indicating a broad geographical impact. Key affected areas include:

  • Central, Tayside & Fife: Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling
  • East Midlands: Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland
  • West Midlands: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire
  • East of England: Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, Thurrock
  • London & South East England: Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Greater London, Kent, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire
  • North East England: Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees
  • North West England: Blackburn with Darwen, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Halton, Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington
  • SW Scotland, Lothian Borders: Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, West Lothian
  • Strathclyde: Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire
  • Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wrexham
  • Yorkshire & Humber: East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, York

Safety Advice and Precautions

With the warning in place, authorities are advising residents to take necessary precautions to stay safe. This includes:

  1. Avoiding unnecessary travel during the warning period, especially in the early morning hours.
  2. Using gritted or treated paths where available, and wearing appropriate footwear with good grip.
  3. Being extra vigilant when driving, as road conditions may become slippery and hazardous.
  4. Checking on vulnerable neighbours or family members who may be at higher risk from the icy conditions.

The issuance of this yellow warning underscores the importance of staying informed about weather updates, particularly during winter months when such conditions can pose significant risks to public safety.