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For help on understanding the weather forecasts produced, click here.

Severe Weather Warnings are issued when confidence of forthcoming severe weather events occuring is 80% or greater. These warnings are displayed against a red background on our warnings page. See below for the criteria required to warrant a warning. Please note that the warnings are issued for information purposes only - the Met Office is responsible for issuing official weather warnings for the region.

Extended Severe Weather Warnings are issued when confidence of forthcoming severe weather events occuring is 50% or greater. These warnings are displayed against an orange background on our warnings page. See below for the criteria required to warrant a warning. Please note that the warnings are issued for information purposes only - the Met Office is responsible for issuing official weather warnings for the region.

Rain falling at a rate of 5mm/hour or more, and expected to last for at least two hours. Typically, 15mm can be expected within 3 hours. In the event of heavy showers or thunderstorms, these totals may fall in a much shorter time period.

Rain falling at a rate of 5mm/hour or more, and expected to last for at least two hours. Typically, 25mm can be expected within 3 hours, with the potential to cause disruption from flooding. In the event of heavy showers or thunderstorms, these totals may fall in a much shorter time period.

Sustained winds of 45mph, with repeated gusts likely to exceed 60mph.

Snow falling at a rate of 2cm/hour or more, and expected to last for at least two hours. Typically, accumulations of 5-10cm can be expected within 3 hours.

Snow falling at a rate of 2cm/hour or more, and expected to last for at least two hours, typically giving accumulations of 15cm within 3 hours and causing significant travel disruption.

Heavy snow, accompanied by sustained winds of at least 30mph.

Lying snow that is picked up and blown around to a maximum height of 2 metres by strong winds. In such events, snow can pile-up significantly against vertical surfaces exposed to the wind.

Visibility significantly reduced, to below 50 metres locally.

Fog present when the air temperature is below 0°C. Deposits of rime can develop on exposed surfaces, increasing the risk of ice on untreated surfaces.

Rain, sleet or snow either falling onto frozen surfaces, or settling on surfaces which then freeze, causing widspread ice to form if the surfaces remain untreated. Sometimes, surfaces are treated with grit but this becomes washed away by falling rain, and as a result increases the risk of widespread ice forming.

Rain falling onto frozen surfaces, which can turn to sheet/black ice on untreated stretches.

Temperatures over two consecutive days are expected to reach at least 30°C, and the intervening night falling no lower than 16°C. This can have a significant impact on the health of vulnerable people.