Heavy snow expected to bring disruption to region

Heavy snow is expected across large parts of South Yorkshire on Thursday evening as Storm Goretti arrives in the UK.

Most of Sheffield, as well as areas to the north and west of the city, are covered by an amber Met Office weather warning, which is due to take effect from 20:00 GMT and last until 09:00 on Friday.

Disruption to travel is expected, while TransPennine Express said it would suspend all train services between Sheffield and Manchester from 18:00 for the rest of the day.

The A628 Woodhead Pass will close in both directions from 20:00 between the A616 at Flouch in South Yorkshire and the A57 at Hollingworth in Greater Manchester, National Highways said.

Eastern parts of South Yorkshire, including Doncaster, plus West Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Dales will be covered by a less severe yellow weather warning.

The Met Office warned that travel delays in areas covered by the amber warning were "likely".

It added that there was a "good chance" that rural communities may be "cut off", with up to 30cm (12 ins) of snow possible in hilly areas. More urban areas are likely to see between 10 and 15cm (4 - 6ins).

A Met Office spokesperson said: "Snow will ease through the course of Friday morning, turning more to rain or sleet at times at low levels, but disruption is likely to persist into Friday after snow stops falling.

"There is some uncertainty over the exact track of Storm Goretti, which will influence the locations most likely to see disruptive snow, and it is possible this warning may be updated."

On Wednesday, the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield's minor injuries unit was forced to shut to new patients due to "exceptional demand", after hundreds attended with ice-related injuries.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the unit, as well as the A&E department at Northern General Hospital, was the busiest it had been for several years.

The unit was due to reopen as normal at 08:00 on Thursday.

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