HEAVY snow and ice is due to grip the city as arctic weather conditions sweep across the country tonight.
The Met Office is initially forecasting light snow showers in Chester but they will become much heavier by Saturday, with temperatures likely to plummet to -4°C over the weekend.
Cheshire West and Chester Council says it’s ready to deal with the latest cold snap and will be gritting roads.
A spokeswoman said: “We have council officers and BAM Nuttall staff on duty 24/7 throughout any period of snow and ice.
“We have sufficient levels of salt at the Guilden Sutton depot and we are able to draw salt directly from the mine in Winsford.
“On nights where frost or icy conditions are forecasted, salt will be spread to prevent ice forming across 40% of the council’s roads.
“Salting is normally completed within four hours and usually before 7am.”
Met Office chief forecaster Richard Young said: “Following the rain and snow on Thursday, skies are expected to clear rapidly with widespread ice likely to form quickly. This could lead to disruption to travel networks.”
Julie Webster, NHS Western Cheshire director of public health, said: “Keep your main living room at around 18- 21°C and the rest of the house at least 16°C. If you cannot heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before you go to sleep.
“Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be more vulnerable to cold weather.
“The persistent freezing weather continues to present a health risk, particularly to older people and those with underlying medical conditions.
“The ‘Keep Warm, Keep Well’ campaign offers tips on keeping warm, insulating the home and keeping heating bills down, obtaining winter fuel and cold weather payments, healthy eating, keeping physically active, flu and flu vaccination, support from NHS Direct and much more.”
For information about the ‘Keep Warm Keep Well’ visit www.dh.gov.uk. To contact NHS Direc,t call 0845 4647.
The Winter Fuel Payments Helpline is 0845 915 1515.
