Freezing rain and black ice warning for Shropshire
Freezing rain and black ice could hit Shropshire this weekend, with motorists warned of dangerous driving conditions.
Weather forecasters are urging people to take care on icy pavements and ungritted lanes that they said could become impassible because of black ice.
While the county was not expected to get the snowfall forecast for further north, an amber warning for ice has been issued by the Met Office.
The warning says that as a weather front hits, the cold air and freezing rain is expected to result in the rapid development of widespread ice, with very dangerous travelling conditions likely.
Injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces are likely and black ice may form quickly affecting bus, train and air travel the Met Office says.
"Dangerous driving conditions are likely leading to road traffic collisions, road closures and longer journey times while pavements and cycle paths likely to become instantly impassable because of the sudden formation of black ice," a spokesman for the Met Office said.
The freezing rain could also affect overhead electricity lines.
"Power and other services, such as telephone and mobile phone coverage, likely to be interrupted or cut."
Shropshire was under a blanket of snow this time last year but forecasters say the county is unlikely to enjoy a white Christmas in 2018.
Instead the predictions are for a cloudy day with temperatures around 5-8 degrees.
