Images from a weather camera, at the A689 Lanehead weather station, near Stanhope, show a dusting of snow across the countryside.
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This comes as the Met Office has predicted large swathes of the UK will be covered in the first snow of 2025. Forecasters have advised people to take care in snowy and icy conditions this weekend, and into next week.
The latest measurements from the A689 Lanehead site say that it is not currently raining, and that a 9mph wind is blowing westerly. The air temperature is 0 C, and the road surface temperature is at 0.5 C.
An amber weather warning for snow has been issued by the Met Office, and a further yellow weather warning for snow and ice.
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First snowfall in County Durham as more expected:
The amber warning is active from 9pm on Saturday, January 4 through to 11.59pm on Sunday, January 5, while the yellow warning is currently active and will be in force until 11.59pm on Sunday.
In Durham, a band of sleet and snow moving northeast after midnight tonight (Saturday, January 4). Winds will strengthen over the Pennines towards the end of the night, with a minimum temperature -2 °C.
Forecasters have predicted that Sunday will also be cold, with snow giving significant accumulations, especially over Pennines with the risk of blizzard conditions. Perhaps turning to rain along coasts. Windy, particularly along coasts. Maximum temperature 2 °C.