M1 Weather News
Why we show the weather. We publish official weather warnings and forecasts from the Met Office beside our M1 traffic news. People come to us to check the road before they set off, and the weather can change that journey as much as an accident can. Wet roads mean it takes at least twice as far to stop. Ice, fog, strong wind and heavy spray all leave less room for mistakes. Our aim is simple: to help everyone who uses the M1 stay safe and decide how, and when, to make their journey.
Alongside the weather we show live accidents, closures and roadworks, and our M1 trends pages show how busy the M1 is from day to day and hour to hour. Together they give you the whole picture before you set off.
Weather along the M1. The M1 runs up the centre of England, from north London through Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire to Leeds, where it joins the A1(M). Our M1 weather page brings together the Met Office warnings for the South East, the East Midlands and Yorkshire, so a driver heading north can see what's waiting further up the road.
Wind on wide motorways
Much of the M1 is now three or four lanes wide, and long stretches have become smart motorways. That's a lot of open tarmac, with the barriers and verges that would normally break up the wind set further apart. On a windy day gusts can sweep across the carriageway with little to stop them. Take extra care if you're driving a high-sided vehicle, towing a caravan or riding a motorbike, and give them room if you're passing.