Overview
- Met Office yellow alerts remain in parts of the North, Devon, Wales and Scotland, with risks of travel disruption, power cuts and isolated rural communities.
- People are advised to start early by removing loose snow, then spread about a tablespoon of ordinary table or dishwasher salt per square metre.
- Guidance stresses using salt or sand, not water, to avoid refreezing into black ice, with extra attention for steps and steep paths and treatment before nightfall.
- Household tips include a 50% warm water and 50% vinegar mix as an eco-friendly option, while rock salt loses effectiveness below roughly -3.9°C and hot water can damage surfaces or refreeze dangerously.
- Department for Transport advice says you can clear pavements and are unlikely to face legal action if done carefully, though lawyers note potential liability if poor clearing creates a hazard on private or public paths.