The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for icy conditions this week as harsh conditions hit the North East, including Jesmond.

This comes after a week of frigid weather in the city of Newcastle. The alert ran from 4pm on January 9th until 10am on January 10th. 

On Wednesday night, England, Wales and Northern Ireland experienced the coldest night of the winter thus far, with -11.2°C, -7.9°C and -7.2°C respectively. 

Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “Another very cold night is expected tonight with temperatures dipping as low as -16°C where we have lying snow in Scotland and northern England. Temperatures will also be well below freezing across much of the UK so there is a continued risk of ice overnight and through Friday morning’s rush hour.” 

The small and narrow streets of Jesmond were also exposed to the dangers of icy conditions. 

Residents have been advised to take extra precautions as the icy conditions on footpaths and untreated roads can cause users to slip and sustain injuries. 

Newcastle University student resident Azizul Rijal, 21, who lives along Tankerville Terrace, told JesmondLocal: “The ground is so wet and slippery I had to change my shoes just to avoid falling.”

With the frigid weather comes road conditions that even experienced drivers can have trouble dealing with. Drivers should exercise care when driving along icy streets as sleet and black ice can cause skids that result in accidents, according to experts.

“With a huge number of vehicles failing drivers in the cold, our teams are working as fast as they can to rescue our members. In fact, we’re currently seeing our highest levels of demand over a three-day period since December 2022,” said RAC spokesperson Alice Simpson.  

The Met Office also said that commuters should keep themselves and their family safe by planning to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. “Not needing to rush reduces their risk of accidents, slips, and falls,” the weather watchers said.

Residents should also dress appropriately for the weather as temperatures remain low, or below freezing, for the remainder of the weekend.