Advice to take care on Devon's roads as colder temperatures set to follow rain

More widespread rainfall today is forecast to be followed by falling temperatures overnight, prompting further warnings of possible travel disruption across the county’s road network.

The Met Office’s latest Yellow Weather Warning for rain started at midday today (Thursday 4 January) and continues until 3am tomorrow morning.

Although the amount of rainfall is expected to be less than during recent storms, as the ground is already saturated it could cause further flooding and surface water issues.

Devon County Council’s highways teams are also concerned that once the rain has moved away from Devon by around 9pm-10pm this evening, some areas will see road surface temperatures drop below freezing in the early hours of tomorrow morning which will bring with it a risk of icy roads in some parts of the county.

Gritters are heading out overnight from around 1am on some of the precautionary salting routes around Honiton, Ivybridge, Newton Abbot, Okehampton and Tiverton. Other routes will be monitored.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “There has been no let up with the wet weather and with even more rain falling while river levels are still high and fields are waterlogged, it won't take much to cause more surface water issues on our network. The added problem is that straight off the back of this rain, we will start to see colder weather moving in. With standing water and water run-off on the roads, it will make it an extremely difficult task for our gritting teams and could make ice extremely likely. Please drive according to conditions and take extra care.”

Please remember the following advice:
• Allow additional time for your journey. Never drive through floodwater or swollen flowing water, you don’t know how deep it is. Find an alternative route;
• Reduce your speed and leave more space between you and the vehicle in front;
• Drive with care and according to the conditions;
• Never assume a road has been salted. Remember that showers or rain will wash salt off roads leaving them prone to ice, and in extreme cold even salting will not stop ice from forming;
• Listen to local radio for updates on current weather conditions and ensure you are stocked with food and medications.
For more information and travel advice visit our winter travel webpages or for updates follow @DevonAlert on Twitter (X) and Facebook.