Major routes across Cumbria will be gritted tonight as the county prepares for the arrival of thundersnow.

Cumbria County Council has confirmed that gritters will be operating on major routes including both the A595 and A596, while the B5300 between Silloth and Workington will also be gritted.

Teams will also be patrolling both the A6 and A7.

Highways England is also set to deploy gritting patrols on the M6, A66 and A69.


View tonight's gritting route map here: http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/gritting/default.asp


Cumbria County Council says that first priority roads will be gritted within three hours of work getting underway, while those listed as second priority will be gritted within five hours.

Cumbria Highways says gritters will have snow ploughs fitted.

Snow, strong winds and hoar frost are forecast and road surface temperatures are expected to be below zero.