More severe weather forecast for North Somerset

The extreme weather conditions of recent days with heavy rainfall and high winds in North Somerset is going to get worse. 

The district council highways department is warning people to braced themselves for plunging temperatures.

The forecast for the next few days in North Somerset indicates dry but cold conditions, with overnight possible near freezing temperatures on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night. 

This could have a significant impact on roads if sub zero road temperatures do occur. 

The already wet roads are likely to freeze and cause treacherous driving conditions.

Gritting vehicles will be deployed as usual if the road temperature falls, but the council is warning that due to water run off from hills and fields the effectiveness of the salting may be severely reduced.  

The council salts 29 per cent of the overall road network, including the main arterial routes.  

Therefore the message to drivers, public transport users, cyclists and pedestrians is to take extreme caution on all roads, whether treated or not, and to heed warnings and advice on the council website by clicking HERE. 

 Drivers can take precautions such as having their vehicles well serviced and to take equipment such as scrapers, de-icers, warm clothes, blanket, hot drinks, torch and shovel.  

When driving take care at road junctions, avoid harsh breaking, use dipped headlights in poor visibility and maintain a safe stopping distance.  

The advice to drivers is if you do get into trouble stay with your vehicle if possible until help arrives or give police the details if you have to abandon it.

The following roads in North Somerset are currently closed due to flooding and surface water: 

• Claverham Road, Claverham
• Failand Lane, Failand
• Portbury Lane, Portbury
• Sheepway, Portbury

Other minor roads are also closed and many more roads are affected but passable with care. 

If a road has a 'road closed' sign up then it really does mean that the road is shut and drivers should not be tempted to negotiate that stretch of road but find an alternative route.