Manchester Airport prepares for snow and ice as warnings issued in the UK

Manchester Airport is bracing itself for wintery conditions this week by taking a range of measures to ensure that any travel disruption is minimised. It comes as a yellow warning for snow and ice is in force for large parts of the UK overnight and into Tuesday.

The Met Office has warned that “a spell of snow may bring disruption” with possible delays to road, rail and air travel. Snow showers are forecast for Manchester overnight with temperatures dropping to 1C.

Although Tuesday is forecast to be a clear and sunny day, temperatures will remain close to freezing as the UK continues to feel the effects of cold arctic air. In preparation for the bad weather, the airport is taking various precautions to ensure that it can operate safely - and with more than 20 miles of runways taxiways, along with a significant road network, miles of footpaths, a train, tram and bus station and several sizeable car parks this is no easy feat.

READ MORE: Manchester Airport issues advice for passengers as snow and ice warnings issued

One important step the airport takes is monitoring the weather closely using a sophisticated forecasting system which monitors the exact air pressure around the airfield, the precise level of the clouds and more. This means that teams at the airport know not only when snow is likely to start falling but also the temperature of the tarmac on the airfield and the likelihood of any snow settling.

The technology allows staff to understand what type of snow is likely to be around; if the temperature is below -2C it’s actually easier to clear as any moisture in it is frozen; whereas if it’s warmer it will be more like slush and ice, which is more slippery and harder to clear. Hence why airports in colder countries