As the Met Office issues amber severe weather warnings for snow and ice across the UK it's important to keep your animals safe
Merseyside is under a double weather warning as snow and freezing rain are predicted for large parts of the country this weekend, according to forecasters. Amid the serious weather conditions, Cats Protection is issuing important safety and welfare advice to protect pets.
The plunging temperatures, icy conditions and heavy snowfall present risks for cats but some simple actions will keep them safe. The charity is urging owners to wipe any road grit from your pets' paws, as it may stick to their fur. They also recommend keeping the doors of sheds and outbuildings shut or wedged open, so that pets do not become trapped.
Anti-freeze is fatal to cats, so be sure to clean up any spillages after using de-icers or screen washes on vehicles. Cats are also known to climb into vehicle engines for warmth and comfort so check under the bonnet of your vehicle before starting your journey.
Cats Protection is also urging owners to make sure their pets are microchipped and the contact details are up to date. If your cat wanders off in search of a warm place, then microchipping vastly increases the chances they will be found and safely returned to you. If your cat goes outside, then let them out during the times when temperatures are highest and traffic levels are lowest. If the forecast shows extreme weather and you are worried about your cat suffering frostbite or hypothermia then keep them indoors.
Take special care of cats that have arthritis, as the cold can severely affect their joints. Provide plenty of warm and easily accessible places for your cat to sleep in. If you are concerned about your cat’s health or they seem arthritic, then seek veterinary advice. With temperatures expected to plummet across the region, make sure any outdoor water sources doesn’t freeze. You can add a ping pong ball to the water to slow down ice formation and always have clean, fresh water available inside in case the outdoor source is inaccessible. You should also check your cat flap regularly to ensure it hasn’t frozen over or become blocked by snow.
The current forecast for Liverpool predicts snow could start falling from around 8pm on Saturday, with sleet showers predicted to start from 7pm. The chance of snow increases as the evening progresses, with a greater than 95% chance pf precipitation forecast from 10pm onwards.
Chance of precipitation represents how likely it is that snow will fall in the period between the time shown on the Met Office forecast and the next time. Temperatures are also predicted to drop to 1 C overnight – with a ‘feels like' temperature of much lower at -4 C.
Yellow weather warning – ice
- Between 4pm on Friday, January 3 and midnight on Sunday, January 5
Temperatures will again fall widely below freezing during Friday evening. This will allow ice to readily form on untreated surfaces, particularly where roads and pavements remain wet from wintry showers. Scattered showers will fall as a mixture of rain, sleet and snow.
Most areas are unlikely to see any fresh accumulations of snow though a slight covering is possible in places.
What to expect
- Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths
- Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
Amber weather warning – snow and ice
- Between 6pm on Saturday, January 4 and 12pm on Sunday, January 5
Snow will become persistent and locally heavy as it pushes south to north across the warning area. As well as snow, a period of freezing rain is also likely bringing some hazardous travel conditions, before milder air follows across all areas by Sunday morning.
While there is some uncertainty in details, 3cm to 7cm of snow is likely for much of the warning area, with locally 15cm to 30cm for the higher ground of Wales and the southern Pennines. Freezing rain could lead to ice in places, especially parts of Wales, before the milder air leads to a rapid thaw of snow and ice in the south of the warning area through Sunday.
What to expect
- There is a good chance that power cuts may occur with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
- Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers
- Some road closures and longer journey times possible
- Some delays and cancellations to bus, rail and air travel are likely
- There is a good chance that some rural communities could become cut off
- Untreated pavements and cycle paths likely to be impassable
