Hour-by-hour Boxing Day weather forecast for Greater Manchester as Storm Bella sweeps in

direct to your inboxA yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for Greater Manchester on Saturday as the cold snap looks set to continue into the early part of the weekend.Met Office forecasters say a band of heavy snow could lead to travel disruption tomorrow.The warning runs from midnight to 6pm on Saturday.It comes after the M61 and the M66 were both closed on Friday morning after crashes in icy conditions as Greater Manchester woke up to a blanket of freezing fog.Temperatures

direct to your inboxA flood 'alert' has been put in force in Greater Manchester today after hours of heavy rainfall overnight.The alert warns of 'possible' flooding around the area of the middle River Mersey catchment area.It includes areas near Bramhall in Stockport, Sale, Altrincham and Urmston.The Environment Agency warned: "Flooding is possible - be prepared."And Transport for Greater Manchester said: "With heavy rain in Greater Manchester this morning, expect flooding in some areas.

direct to your inboxA yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been forecast for Greater Manchester this weekend following days of freezing temperatures. Mercury levels could plunge to as low as -9C in the north west this evening, according to the Met Office.A warning for snow and ice is in place until midnight tonight.Then a weather warning for ice is in place tomorrow (Saturday).It should feel a bit warmer by Sunday, with temperatures around 5C.  Here is a borough-by-borough forecast for

direct to your inboxRochdale Infirmary patients became the first in Greater Manchester to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine this week.It was given to people aged over 80 attending scheduled outpatient appointments at the hospital, after its pharmacy team took delivery of the vaccine on Monday.The vaccine was approved for use in the UK by the medical regulator at the end of December.

direct to your inboxA Greater Manchester Police officer who repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl has been jailed.Farooq Ahmed, 37, walked into a police station with a confession note before Christmas.

direct to your inboxAn ice warning covering parts of Greater Manchester has been issued by weather forecasters.The Met Office has warned the public to take care on untreated roads, pavements and cycle lanes.Injuries from slips and falls are feared as temperatures continue to drop below freezing.The warning - issued today and covering eastern areas of Greater Manchester - says icy stretches are likely to cause 'difficult' travel conditions.The yellow-coded warning for ice will be in place from

direct to your inboxHeavy snow is expected to fall in Greater Manchester this afternoon as the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning.Snow and ice could lead to dangerous conditions as up to 5cm of snow could fall in some places, the Met Office warns.A yellow weather warning covering the north east and north west of England, Wales, the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber is in place until 6pm this evening.Greater Manchester is forecast to get heavy snow at around 4pm today, with

direct to your inboxThe streets were empty as Greater Manchester said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in a new year - but many were determined to keep alive at least one tradition.Our video from Werneth Low shows how many parts of Greater Manchester were ablaze with colour as people set off fireworks at midnight to celebrate the arrival of 2021.Around 200 socially distanced people gathered on the popular spot to watch the moment our region said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in the New Year.Car horns

direct to your inboxIt has been a year like no other.However Great Mancunians have still made headlines across the world, for all sorts of reasons.Here we look at those who have put the region on the map in 2020, a year we will never forget.2020 has undoubtedly belonged to Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford.However it is his incredible work off the pitch which has made the headlines, even more than his impressive goal-scoring feats on it.The Withington-born and Wythenshawe raised

direct to your inbox"It's absolutely gut-wrenching."Hair salon owner Jane Nixon describes how she felt as Matt Hancock announced that Greater Manchester would be moving into Tier 4.And it's a feeling thousands of business owners across the region will be familiar with.A change in restrictions, businesses finally being allowed to open then being forced to shut again just a few weeks later.

direct to your inboxA Greater Manchester Police officer has been suspended from driving after a boy was knocked down by a police car and left fighting for his life.The 15-year-old was hit by the vehicle on Boxing Day as officers were responding to reports of a domestic disturbance.The accident happened at 9.30pm on Garners Lane in Stockport.The boy was taken to hospital with a serious head injury, where yesterday (December 30) his condition was described as critical but stable.In a statement GMP

direct to your inboxDoctors and paramedics say they are bracing themselves for a new tide of Covid patients to hit Greater Manchester's hospitals within weeks. Speaking as plans for the region's move to Tier 4 were announced and the return to school for secondary pupils was delayed, Dr Carole Gavin, a consultant in Greater Manchester, said concerns were growing as hospitals in the south battle to find beds as infection rates - largely found to be caused by the new mutant strain - rise.

direct to your inboxA Greater Manchester Police chief has urged people to stay at home in Tier 4 tomorrow night instead of celebrating New Year's Eve as they normally would. Under Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, people are required by law to remain at home unless they need to leave their home for essential reasons.

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direct to your inboxThe Met Office has issued another weather warning, with more snow is expected to hit the region in the next 24 hours.A yellow warning for snow and ice has been extended until tomorrow morning (Tuesday, December 29).The region was covered by a yellow warning for snow this morning.

direct to your inboxIt wasn't quite the white Christmas we see in all those festive movies.But there was a dusting of snow across Greater Manchester on Christmas Day.However, things quickly turned to strong winds and heavy rain as Storm Bella began its approach on Boxing Day.The Met Office has since issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice beginning at 6pm tonight (Sunday) into Monday morning.Therefore sleet, snow and flooding is all expected in parts of Greater Manchester as the extreme

direct to your inboxForecasters have posted three flood alerts across Greater Manchester as Storm Bella wreaks havoc in parts of the country.People in communities in Trafford, Stockport and Tameside close to the River Mersey valley and also residents in Oldham, Bolton and Rochdale in the River Irk catchment have been urged to be prepared for possible flooding.Met Office forecasters have warned that Storm Bella could bring 70mph winds and heavy rain to parts of the UK on Saturday, with the worst

direct to your inboxIt could be a rough day across Greater Manchester tomorrow as forecasters warn of extreme weather.The Met Office has issued alerts for strong winds and heavy rain, alongside a weather warning for snow and ice in Greater Manchester as Storm Bella sweeps across the country.Temperatures are expected to reach no higher than 3°C across most of the region on Sunday but the windchill will make the conditions feel much colder.Forecasters say icy surfaces are likely in much of Greater

direct to your inboxLike this entire year, Christmas Day in 2020 is anything but normal.It's a restricted, and for some quite sad time.But Greater Mancunians did have something to smile about today...

direct to your inboxStorm Bella is set to bring heavy rain and strong winds to Greater Manchester on Boxing Day.The Met Office have issued a series of weather warnings ahead of the storm's arrival on Saturday afternoon (26 December).An amber severe weather warning has been issued for parts of south Wales and across southern England, with gusts expected to reach up to 60 to 70mph in some places.Storm Bella is likely to bring disruption to travel and utilities, the forecaster's alert said.In