COUNCIL gritters will be out in force on roads around the Bradford district as snow is expected to hit the region in the coming hours.
An Arctic blast of cold air is forecast to bring snow and wintry weather to Bradford tonight and tomorrow morning.
A Met Office yellow weather warning, covering the Bradford district, for snow and ice is in place from 7pm today until 10am on Tuesday.
It comes after the weather agency updated its forecast and predicted snowfall to start from 6pm.
Bradford Council is deploying on the district's roads this afternoon as the first snow is expected to start falling at around 6pm.
Heavy snow is forecast to start falling from 8pm, continuing into the early morning hours until 4am.
The gritters start on Priority One Routes this afternoon and then from around 7pm they will be patrolling high ground and gritting when and where they are needed.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw Bradford Council's Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “Our plans for this afternoon are to have crews out from 3pm to grit all Priority One Routes including segregated cycle paths.
"This usually takes around two and a half hours. Then from 7pm to 7am we plan to have drivers out patrolling high ground, gritting when and where needed.
“We are due to receive a revised forecast at 5pm today, this will be used to determine plans for overnight and tomorrow morning.
“Information about gritting in the Bradford district including a map of our gritting routes and tips for winter driving can be found on our website – bradford.gov.uk/winter
“Residents can help our crews with this critical council service, by checking the gritting routes, allowing extra time for journeys, driving to weather conditions and parking sensibly so gritter wagons can get through and complete their routes.”
A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Although most snow is still likely to accumulate on higher ground, with 5-10 cm on ground over 200 metres and possibly 15-20 cm over 300 metres, there is a chance that snow may settle at lower levels within the warning area."
In addition, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a Cold Health Alert for large swathes of England running from now until Thursday - putting NHS services on notice to expect greater demand.
The cold weather alert for Yorkshire and the Humber is 'amber' level.
When the temperatures are set to fall below zero – as they are this week – Bradford Council puts special provision in place to make sure no-one has to sleep outside.
Yesterday (November 17) one person used the service and 11 have so far come forward for this evening.
Cllr Ross-Shaw said: “Severe cold weather increases the risk to people sleeping rough. Snow, freezing temperatures and icy winds can be life-threatening.
"When temperatures drop below zero, our provision means that those vulnerable people can have a warm place to stay indoors."
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