Drivers warned as cold weather continues (From Daily Echo)

Drivers warned as cold weather continues

4:00am Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News By Luke Tugby, Senior reporter

Motorists are being warned of treacherous driving conditions across Hampshire today, with snow and ice warnings remaining in place this morning.

Freezing temperatures will continue to grip the south until Friday, with a lethal combination of slush and black ice set to cause havoc on smaller roads up and down the county.

But forecasters believe we have now seen the worst of the snow, with only a small chance of light flurries of the white stuff tonight.

Temperatures will remain as low as -3C until Friday, although the outlook remains dry and cloudy.

And Met Office experts say that we could be basking in temperatures as high as 8C by Saturday, although gale force gusts of up to 37mph will leave a bone-chilling tingle in the air.

The forecast has led TV weather presenter Sian Lloyd to back a campaign to help elderly people heat their homes during the cold snap.

Sian has signed up as an ambassador for the Turn2Us Acting on Fuel Poverty campaign, which aims to help elderly people across the UK pay their energy bills.

It comes after the Daily Echo launched its Stay Warm campaign, encouraging people across Hampshire to do what they can to help elderly family members, friends and neighbours as the icy blast continues.

Sian said: “I am sincerely very worried for the many thousands of people who won’t be able to heat their homes this year. Even before this winter’s energy price rises increased the average energy bill by seven per cent, nearly two-thirds of people on low incomes surveyed said they were unsure whether they could afford heating and electricity without enduring financial hardship.”

More stories for about the recent cold weather

• Council staff and teachers given full pay for snow day
• The big freeze continues to bite
• Fun in the Snow
• Melting snow causes power failure at fire headquarters
• More snow predicted for the south
• Schools stay shut on Monday because of snow
• More snow for Hampshire today
• Forecasters predict more snow for Hampshire