Winter weather and snow

Travel advice

Driving

In winter weather it's important to plan your journey. When road conditions are bad only travel when absolutely necessary. Always:

• Check your car is ready for winter - tyres correctly inflated, use screen wash suitable for low temperatures and have enough fuel for your journey.
• Have an emergency kit in your car - make sure your mobile phone is fully charged, take a spade, blanket, food and drink.
• Drive carefully and allow extra time for your journey - steer, brake and accelerate more gently than normal and leave bigger gaps between you and the car in front.
• To help gritters, snow ploughs, refuse trucks and emergency vehicles access your street please try and park your car so that it doesn't block the road.
• North East traffic cams (opens new window) display regular images of traffic and weather conditions across the borough.
• The Urban Traffic Management Control Centre (UTMC) (opens new window) provides information such as road closures, roadworks and CCTV camera views. You can also follow them on Twitter.
• Highways England (opens new window) provide the latest traffic information.

Public transport

In severe weather it is often advisable to travel by bus or Metro rather than your own car. Local transport operators will do all they can to provide the best possible service during winter.

Bus/Ferry/Metro

• Check with Nexus (opens new window) for the latest updates 24 hours a day for Metro and bus services from all operators.
• Visit the Traveline (opens new window) website or phone 0871 200 22 33 for information on public transport timetables and service disruptions.
• Visit the Go North East website (opens new window) or follow them on Twitter (opens new window) and Facebook (opens new window).
• Visit the Stagecoach website (opens new window).
• Visit the Arriva Bus website (opens new window) or follow them on Twitter (opens new window) and Facebook (opens new window).

Train

Local train information, including real time updates, can be found at Northern Rail (opens new window).

Air

Visit the Newcastle Airport website (opens new window) for updates on arrivals and departures.

Looking after yourself and others 

• 999 - Always call this number in an emergency endangering human life.
• 101 - Call this number to report non emergency incidents.
• NHS website (opens new window) or phone 111 if you are worried about health issues
• Met Office website (opens new window) for weather updates and information.
• Protecting your home advice (opens new window) from the Met Office
• Staying warm and healthy in winter advice (opens new window) from the NHS website
• Cold weather payment information (opens new window) from Gov.uk
• National cold weather plan (opens new window) from Gov.uk
• NHS advice on staying well during the winter months (opens new window)
• Directory of Warm Spaces in Gateshead
   

Clearing paths

There's no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your home or from public spaces. It's unlikely you'll be sued or held legally responsible for any injuries on the path if you have cleared it carefully. Remember, people walking on snow and ice have a responsibility to be careful themselves.

Visit the Met Office website for advice on clearing paths and public spaces (opens new window).

Follow us

You can keep up to date with our winter weather updates by following us on X (opens new window) and Facebook (opens new window).