Orange ice and snow warning issued for Jersey

Headteachers will contact parents if schools close, the government say

An orange ice and snow warning has been issued for Jersey.

It follows a day of snow in the island on Tuesday, leaving roads icy and covered in brown snow sludge.

Jersey Met said sleet and snow showers were possible through until Wednesday morning, with road and air temperatures expected to remain "below freezing".

The government said a meeting would be held to assess travel conditions for schools, and that head teachers would contact parents if schools closed.

Children enjoyed a snow day at nursery on Tuesday

The government will meet with education officials at 05:45 GMT on Wednesday.

The Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department said the responsibility of opening schools "sits with head teachers".

It said: "If conditions remain unclear a decision will be made as late as 8am. This is to make sure that, if conditions do allow for schools to be open, time is allowed to make sure they are safe to do so."

The department said if parents or carers were not told of a closure, "they should assume it will be open", and that it was a "priority for everyone that children are able to safely attend school and continue with their learning as much as possible through disruptions of any kind".

The government said there would be "significant risk of icy patches, particularly on untreated surfaces", and a potential of 3-5cm of snowfall on higher ground and 1-2cm at sea level.

The government advised islanders to drive cautiously as roads and footpaths "may be slippery", and to "check on the vulnerable and elderly".

It said footpaths were not treated, so islanders should "tread carefully".

Air and ground temperatures expected to remain "below freezing" on Wednesday morning

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