Sunderland weather warnings: How much longer will the current weather warnings last and what do they mean?

The North East’s first cold weather related warnings of the winter were put in place this week with the Met Office predicting icy conditions which could impact the region, but what do the warnings mean and when could Sunderland see another set of warnings?

What are the current weather warnings in Sunderland?

Sunderland currently has a yellow weather warning for ice in place. This began on Wednesday, December 7, and currently runs until Friday, December 9, with the warning covering the majority of the west coast of England as well as southern areas of Scotland.

What do yellow weather warnings mean?

Yellow weather warnings are used to make people aware of potential light impacts due to weather, such as travel delays or general disruption of day-to-day activities. It is the least severe type of warning and can also imply that the Met Office are monitoring the situation while also meaning the public should also keep an eye out for updates.

Can yellow weather warnings be moved to higher levels?

Yes, the Met Office can adjust weather warnings to help make the public aware of how severe weather could impact life, although it is highly unlikely for the current warning.

What are the other types of weather warnings?

There are three types of weather warning for eight types of weather – rain, thunderstorms, lightning, snow, ice, fog, wind and extreme heat – and these are, in order of severity, yellow, amber and red.

If there is an increased likelihood of worsening weather conditions, the weather warnings may rise to the amber level. This means further travel delays may occur in addition to power being temporarily lost from homes and the potential for risk to life and property. An amber warning may also be paired with a warning for people to be prepared and change their plans in the interest of safety.

Worse weather will be given a red weather warning which implies that extremely bad weather is to be expected which can pose a risk to life. Additional substantial disruption to power and travel is also expected in addition to property and wider infrastructure. The Met Office advises against travel if a red warning is in place.

When will Sunderland next see snow?

Wintry conditions are expected for the remainder of this week along the North East coast although clear skies are expected heading into the weekend. Further wintry conditions are expected throughout the middle of December although no heavy snowfall is expected.

At the time of writing there are currently no other weather warnings in place.

How can I find out if a weather warning is in place?

In addition to traditional news media, the Met Office is constantly updating its website with news, and all enforced warnings are on the homepage of the website at the time of the weather front. The service’s app also gives warning notifications.