Snow blankets the region (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Snow blankets the region

3:37pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Alexa Copeland, Reporter (Darlington)

THE heavy snow that blanketed the North-East and North Yorkshire today (Monday, March 11) could continue throughout the week, forecasters warn.

The Met Office issued yellow ‘be aware’ warnings for snow affecting the whole of the country today (Monday, March 11) which remain in place until Thursday.

North Sea coastal areas have borne the brunt of the snow, but John Lee, forecaster at the Meteogroup, said that although the blizzards may have come as a surprise to some, it is not all that unusual for the time of year.

He said: “Easter is actually more likely to have snow that Christmas.

“Often people expect the months of December and January to be cold and snowy, but this is more so in March.

“It isn’t particularly unusual; temperatures are below average but March can be a transitional month, it can be mild and sunny, then back to snow again.”

For the coming week, overnight temperatures across the region are forecast to remain in minus figures, with daytime temperatures struggling to reach higher than five or six degrees.