Snow and Wintry Showers Expected to Hit Washington

Washington and the surrounding area in Tyne and Wear are facing a period of snow and wintry showers from January 24, 2026, through early February (with the most volatile conditions expected until around February 5) as cold air remains stalled over the north-east of England. Forecasters at the Met Office warned on January 24, 2026, that cold air from the North Sea is meeting wet weather from the Atlantic, which will likely cause snow to fall on higher ground. This weather pattern means that while some areas see rain, communities just a short distance away could see significant snow cover.

The highest risk of settling snow is in Springwell Village, Penshaw, and the higher parts of Rickleton and Harraton. Residents in these outlying areas should prepare for hazardous travel conditions, particularly on main roads like the A1231 and A19. Local schools, including Washington Academy and St Robert of Newminster, will be monitoring the weather to decide if transport issues will require any temporary closures.

To keep the city moving, Sunderland City Council has activated its full winter maintenance protocol, deploying gritters to priority routes and focusing on main roads and bus routes. Because the council cannot grit every side street, they are asking neighbours to use the city’s more than 350 community grit bins and to give gritting vehicles plenty of space on the road. Officials have also raised concerns that if the snow melts quickly, the Environment Agency may need to issue flood alerts for the River Wear near Fatfield.

Residents should keep up to date with the Met Office forecasts, Sunderland City Council winter-maintenance notices, and the Environment Agency’s flood-alert service for the latest warnings and advice.