Weather warnings issued with heavy snow forecast to bring travel chaos
Heavy snow will fall across the West Midlands this week with gritting teams working around-the-clock to keep busy routes clear.
Hundreds of miles of roads were being gritted overnight in preparation for snow to fall on Tuesday.
And there will be little let up this week with heavy snow flurries forecast on Thursday.
Three yellow weather warnings have been issued by The Met Office to alert people to potentially hazardous travel conditions.
When will snow fall this week?
Snow is forecast to fall on Tuesday, with temperatures down to 0C (32F) in the Black Country and Staffordshire overnight on Monday.
Snowfall and icy conditions could cause delays on busy roads, affecting motorists commuting from work in rush hour.
Forecasters predict snow will start falling at 5pm on Tuesday and continue until around 9pm.
Temperatures lower to 0C before rising to a high of 4C (39F) on Wednesday. Sunny spells are expected with a gentle breeze.
Yet temperatures will sink again to around -4C (25F) overnight into Thursday with snow falling from 8am impacting on the morning commute.
Heavy snow is forecast throughout the day before showers lighten into the evening and overnight into Friday.
Showers turn wetter during Friday with temperatures of around 2C (36F).
Gritting teams ready for snowfall
Dudley Council's gritting teams are anticipating a special type of frost called 'hoar frost' which makes the ground unusually cold.
The council has a team of 40 gritting vehicles on standby and will be monitoring the borough's 300 miles of roads around the clock.
Dudley councillor John Martin, cabinet member for Environmental Services and Highway, said: "When the snow and ice arrives Dudley Council works around the clock to grit the network and clear snow.
"People can be assured that we will work hard throughout the winter in order to help keep the borough moving.”
The council has also given community groups equipment including shovels and special bags of salt to deal with any snow.
The 'snow busters' initiative helps residents keep pavements clear and minimise dangerous walking conditions for pedestrians.
More than 200 snow-busting packs were handed out last year, which included high-visibility vests and salt-spreaders.
"Volunteer groups play a vital role in helping us to reach vulnerable people when it snows and last year’s extreme winter the snow busters scheme brought together communities and individuals," said Dudley councillor Cathryn Bayton, cabinet member for Health and Adult Social Care.
"I hope lots of people will help us make the scheme a success this winter whatever the weather may entail.”
WATCH the latest weather forecast
Around 0.4in to 1.2in (1cm-3cm) could accumulate on lower-lying levels, with the possibility of 2in to 4in (5cm-10cm) falling on higher ground, forecasters said.
Three separate yellow warnings for snow and ice, covering most of the UK, have been issued, warning of road and rail delays, and hazardous untreated icy paths.
The first, covering south and west Scotland, is in force between 1am on Tuesday and 12pm the same day.
Another takes effect from midday on Tuesday until 11am on Wednesday, covering Wales, the West Midlands, and the North of England.
The third, for the South East, the Midlands, and East Anglia, takes effect from 9pm on Tuesday to midday on Wednesday, and warns of "possibly heavy" snow at times.
The Met Office added there was a "slight chance" that rural communities could be cut off and that power cuts may occur.
Forecaster Ellie Creed said: "It's a case of normal wintry hazards that we would expect - snow, ice, frost are going to be quite prevalent over the next few days."
