The Met Office has issued a Yellow Weather Warning for ice covering Haverhill and the surrounding West Suffolk area on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as freezing temperatures and heavy mist make travel difficult. Drivers and pedestrians are being told to expect slippery surfaces after overnight temperatures fell to around -2.4°C (with readings across the area between about -1°C and -3°C).
Suffolk Highways (Suffolk County Council) says its gritting teams have been treating Priority 1 routes, including the A1307 and A143, since the early hours (around 3:00 AM). The Met Office and Suffolk Highways warned that treated surfaces can still be slippery where mist or runoff has reduced salt effectiveness, so people should not assume a road is safe just because it looks clear. As the Met Office Duty Forecaster put it: “Icy patches are expected to form on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, leading to an increased chance of injuries or accidents. Please allow extra time for your journey.” Suffolk Highways added: “Our gritters have been out since 3:00 AM covering the P1 network, but we urge drivers to never assume a road is safe just because it has been salted. Rain or mist can wash salt away, leaving surfaces lethal.”
Families heading to local schools such as Samuel Ward Academy and Castle Manor Academy are advised to stick to main gritted footpaths and ensure children wear appropriate, sturdy footwear to avoid slips. Community grit bins managed by Haverhill Town Council are available for clearing public footpaths (they should not be used to grit private driveways).
Passengers on services toward Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds — served by local operators including Stagecoach East and Chambers (routes such as the 13/13A to Cambridge and 14/15 to Bury St Edmunds) — should prepare for delays until temperatures rise later this morning. Drivers are also urged to fully clear all frost from windows and to check tyre pressures before setting off.
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