They have stated that snow will only settle on roads above 100m elevation and that the A66 near Scotch Corner is “highly likely” to be closed over the course of the weekend.
They have warned that in the North East, the snow that falls is likely to settle and stay throughout Sunday.
A National Highways spokesperson said: “National Highways, in conjunction with the Met Office, are strongly advising that travel is likely to be extended or even disrupted.
“Road users should heed messages on the overhead signs and listen for radio updates.
“Road users are advised to take extra care if travelling over the weekend.
“At present regarding the A66 or any other routes across the North East, we will be monitoring the weather situation as it develops very closely.
“Any decisions to close any roads for safety reasons will be taken as and when that need becomes evident – I think it highly likely the A66 will be closed at some stage across the weekend.”
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They have issued the following guidance on which roads will be worst affected:
- The snow will only settle on roads above 100m elevation and will tend to become confined to higher ground over time but the trans-Pennine routes will be hit badly, with as much as 10-20cm, perhaps 25cm, over the highest parts of the network (A66 Old Spittal, M62 Windy Hill, A628 Woodhead Pass).
- The snow will become light and patchy during the afternoon and through the evening, not adding much in terms of accumulation however, there will not be much thawing either and any lying snow will likely stay there for quite a few days.
The latest weather information can be found online on the Met Office website here: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/uk.
If planning to travel road users are advised to plan ahead, you may wish to delay your journey. Traffic information is available from National Highways by visiting our www.trafficengland.com website and travel apps, or via our regional X feeds or by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000 (available 24/7).