West Dorset's live snow and ice report: Blizzards set to sweep across the region Friday (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

9:25am

5:18pm

Dorset Local Resilience Forum is encouraging the public to take simple measures to ensure they stay safe and well in tomorrow’s expected snow.

The forum is an emergency planning group made up of agencies including Dorset Police, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, NHS, South West Ambulance Service, local authorities and the Highways Agency

Chief Inspector Nicky Searle of Dorset Police said: “Multi-agency partners are making preparations for the severe weather and have put in place contingency plans to maximise the level of service that can be provided across the county.

“Local authorities are invoking emergency planning arrangements and the emergency services are sharing resources and enlisting voluntary assistance to ensure vehicles and personnel stand the best chance of reaching those in need.

Motorists are advised not to drive in snow or icy conditions unless it is absolutely necessary.

If unavoidable, ensure the vehicle is roadworthy for the conditions.

Make sure that any snow or ice is cleared from the windscreen and windows before driving and carry warm clothing, a blanket and a flask containing a hot drink in case your vehicle breaks down or you become stranded.

Make sure homes are well heated and check on elderly neighbours and relatives to make sure they are ok.

Gritters will be out in force across Dorset overnight to ensure the roads are as safe as possible.

To find out the latest weather forecast and warnings from the Met Office, go to metoffice.gov.uk or follow @metoffice on Twitter.

To find out the latest traffic information from the Highways Agency, go to highways.gov.uk, follow @Highways_Agency on Twitter or call the Highways Agency information line on 08457 50 40 30.

5:10pm

5:07pm

With sub zero temperatures suddenly upon us, the RSPB is advising people to make sure their bird feeders and tables are full of high energy foods.

Richard James, one of the RSPB's wildlife advisors, said: “The sudden drop in temperatures across the UK will have been a big shock to birds' systems after spending the past couple of months with few worries in terms of food availability.

"Thanks to the recent mild weather, many natural food sources have been readily available and water has been easy to come by.

"Now the snow and ice are here birds will need all the help they can get to survive the winter.

”The RSPB suggests calorie-rich foods like mixed seed, nyjer seed, fatballs, suet sprinkles, sunflower seed and good quality peanuts, as well as kitchen scraps, like mild grated cheese, rice and porridge oats."

5:05pm

Dorset County Council’s highways staff are tonight gearing up to keep main routes passable.

Drivers are being advised to take extra care if travelling on Dorset’s roads tomorrow morning, when snow is forecast to sweep across the county.

Dorset County Council’s Traffic Control Centre in Dorchester will be manned from midnight tonight to coordinate the winter highways operations.

Gritting teams will be on 24-hour standby to carry out pre-salting of the winter network and plough any snow that builds up, so that traffic can keep moving as safely as possible across the county.

Salt stocks are healthy, with additional supplies delivered today. All salt bins across the county are full, allowing borough, town and parish councils to treat roads and footways off the salted network.

Salt bins in strategic locations will be refilled as soon as possible but crews will concentrate on keeping priority roads cleared first.

Gritting teams will be out from midnight treating the priority network ready for sub-zero temperatures.

Community routes connecting schools, hospitals and isolated communities were gritted earlier today, and snow ploughs have been fitted to vehicles in preparation for heavy snow tomorrow.

A number of farmers across the county can be drafted in to help clear roads.

Motorists should take extreme care when travelling, keeping their speed down and maintaining a sufficient distance from the vehicle in front to be able to brake and stop safely. It can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions.

For information about road salting, passable roads routes and live information about the weather is affecting essential services, such as schools, day centres and waste collections go to www.dorsetforyou.com/winter

For highways emergencies call 01305 221020.

4:18pm

3:54pm

3:38pm

3:38pm

3:37pm

THE NHS has offered advice to help avoid a trip to hospital during the cold weather.

Lindley Owen, consultant in public health for NHS Bournemouth and Poole, said injuries in cars decrease in ice and snow because drives take extra care.

Mr Owen said the rapid rise in hip and other fractures from people walking puts huge demand on local health services.

He said: “Our local hospitals, already facing very high demand thanks to Norovirus, influenza and emergency admissions, are facing an additional, totally avoidable risk of people with fractured limbs arising from falls on icy paths and steps.”

He has outlined five key points to stay safe.

• Stay indoors in snow and ice, unless you really have to go outside. This is especially important for the old and frail.

• Grit and clear the paths near where you live, if you are fit and capable. (Don’t use water to do this.) You are very unlikely to be sued if anyone slips.

• Report particularly dangerous ice on paths to the council.

• If you have to go out, wrap up well.

• Staying indoors, keep the heating on, and keep wrapped up.

3:09pm

2:18pm

2:01pm

1:52pm

1:44pm

SOUTH West Trains is planning a revised timetable for Friday in anticipation of the blizzards.

A severe weather warning of heavy snow has been issued for South West England, which includes the South West Trains network area and services could be affected.

Jake Kelly, customer service director for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance, said: “Over the past few days, we have been carefully monitoring the weather forecast to enable us to make a decision about the level of service we should plan to run.

“With severe weather warnings in place for heavy snow on our network, we have taken the decision to put a special timetable in place for Friday, January 18.

“We know that what our passengers want most is certainty about when and how they are going to get to their destination.

“This special timetable helps ensure this by running slightly fewer services and allowing more time for trains to cope with poor conditions.

“In addition, it allows us to avoid train crew being in the wrong place which can cause further disruption.”

Passengers are advised to check before they travel and leave additional time for their journeys.

Check for updates and the revised timetables at www.southwesttrains.co.uk or on Twitter @SW_Trains

The National Rail Enquiries website www.nationalrail.co.uk has information about disruption, live departure boards of train services and journey planners.

1:40pm

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for Dorset tomorrow.

A band of snow, heavy in places, will spread northeastwards across Wales and the southwestern half of England, during Friday morning, lasting through the afternoon and evening across much of Wales, the Midlands, southern and parts of southeast England. Winds will strengthen, leading to drifting of lying snow.

Many areas across the country are likely to have 20-30 cm of snow with strong southeasterly winds causing blizzards, severe drifting of lying snow and thus severe disruption. The public should avoid all non-essential journeys.

Elsewhere, accumulations of more than 5-10 cm of snow will occur quite widely, with 15 cm in some western parts of the Amber area, falling within 3-6 hours. The public should be prepared for disruption, including altering travel plans.

1:15pm

1:08pm

The Highways Agency has put out a warning to drivers ahead of tomorrow's forcasted snow.

Motorists are advised to check the weather forecast tonight and tomorrow morning, and allow extra time for travel.

Steve Crosthwaite, head of the Agency’s National Traffic Operations Centre said: “It would certainly be a good idea to check the latest forecast before you go to bed tonight so you’re prepared for the morning – and then set your alarm a bit earlier so you have extra time to prepare your car and make your journey in the morning.

“During periods of severe weather we also suggest people consider whether their journey is essential. They may want to delay their travel until conditions improve and to allow our winter fleet the chance to treat the roads.”

Mr Crosthwaite added: "We are using salt to treat the road network and have ploughs and snow blowers on standby if necessary. Our traffic officers are working around the clock to monitor our road network, deal with any incidents and keep traffic moving.”

Rain moving into the south west after midnight is expected to turn to snow as it moves inland.

Drivers can follow the latest weather news on the Dorset Echo website.

If they are travelling they should keep up to date with weather and travel advice, heed warnings and electronic message signs and drive according to the conditions – leaving extra time for journeys and extra room for braking and avoiding sudden manoeuvres such as braking or changing lanes suddenly.

Incidents and breakdowns can prevent winter service vehicles from treating the roads, causing further problems.

12:36pm

12:22pm

BLIZZARDS could bring Dorset to a standstill tomorrow, forecasters have warned.

Strong winds, sleet and snow are set to sweep across the country with the south of England expected to get its first major snowfall of the year.

Motorists have been warned to take care and members of the public have been urged to keep an eye on vulnerable neighbours as temperatures plummet.

The mercury is set to remain at freezing point overnight and local authorities are preparing to do their best to keep drivers safe on the roads.

“There is the potential for a spell of snow to spread from the south west,” said a spokesman for the Met Office.

“As winds strengthen, blizzard conditions are a possibility, especially over high ground. Accumulations of two to five centimetres are possible quite widely and in some locations, especially higher ground, 15 centimetres are possible.”

Travel disruption is expected from tomorrow until Sunday with most snow expected to hit Dorset from mid-afternoon tomorrow until midday on Saturday.

And metcheck.com has warned that more snow could hit the area before the month is out. It has warned the white stuff could return after a few slightly warmer days next week.

Related links
•Do you know how to drive in snow?

Age UK has urged elderly people to keep warm. Suggestions include closing bedroom windows at night, wrapping up well when going outside and keeping living rooms at 21C and bedrooms at 18C.

Householders have been told crews will return to attempt to empty them on the next scheduled collection.