Residents of Swadlincote, Derbyshire, should expect icy roads and dense fog from the evening of Tuesday 3 February into Wednesday morning 4 February 2026 as a cold snap moves into the area. The Met Office forecasts sleet showers for Tuesday evening, followed by freezing temperatures that could drop as low as −4°C overnight. That combination is expected to create slippery conditions for drivers and pedestrians during the Wednesday morning commute.
Weather experts say wet surfaces from earlier sleet will freeze quickly after sunset, producing patches of black ice that can be hard to see on untreated surfaces. Higher-elevation parts of the area — including Church Gresley, Mount Pleasant and Woodville — are likely to be worst affected. Calm conditions overnight are also likely to allow dense patches of freezing fog to form in valleys, which could significantly reduce visibility on major routes such as the A511 and A444.
Derbyshire County Councilgritting teams (Highways) will be treating primary routes throughout the night, but they caution that salt is not a ‘magic’ solution: it takes time to work and may not prevent ice in sub-zero conditions, particularly if heavy rain washes it away first. Many smaller residential and estate roads are not included on the council’s primary gritting network, making them more hazardous for local traffic. South Derbyshire District Council notes that icy side streets have, in previous events, prevented refuse vehicles from safely reaching some neighbourhoods and can lead to temporary suspensions or delays in waste collection.
