Brits are being warned of hazardous ice and heavy snow in a wintry weekend where over 20cm are set to fall.
An Arctic plunge swept in from the North West on Friday bringing far colder weather, and temperatures could plummet to as low as -6C - but there is respite ahead with the mercury to start rising on Monday.
A yellow weather warning from the Met Office is in place for snow in Scotland on Saturday and Sunday.
It states: “Heavy snow showers may lead to some travel disruption especially over high routes.”
People are told to expect: “Some roads and railways affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.
Maps from WXCharts show that over 20cm of snow could fall on Sunday in Scotland and there is also likely to be a flurry in northern England.
It will also be cold with a low of -6C again in Scotland on Sunday while in the south, although warmer, it won’t get much above 5C.
Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: “We are in for a windy weekend and for some it will be a wintry weekend also. Snow and ice potential hazards especially across western Scotland.”
After the cold front came in on Friday, more will move in during Saturday.
“The next cold front driving south again reintroduces that cold air across northern Britain on Sunday,” said Mr Deakin.
“We have wintry showers through western Scotland through Friday evening. The snow could build up over some of the higher routes here so there is the potential for some travel disruption.”
It is set to be breezy which will stop very low temperatures but it will be a cold on Saturday.
“There will be enough wind to stop temperatures falling too far, they will drop down close to freezing in towns and cities but most will hover above especially in rural spots it will down to about -1C or -2C," said Mr Deakin.
After cold and blustery conditions during the day on Saturday, the mercury will again drop overnight causing more hazardous conditions for Sunday.
Mr Deakin added: "With that cold air and the snow showers packing in we have another Met Office warning in place which lasts through Saturday night and most of Sunday. The snow down to low levels, a couple of centimetres likely to build up in a few places, more than that over the hills.”
After the weekend, though, there will be some milder temperatures next week with the Met Office predicting highs of 12C across much of England by Wednesday.
UK forecast for the next 5 days
Today:
Rain, with a little snow at first, over Scotland moving south, becoming persistent over high ground of Wales and northern England. Drier in east. Becoming milder in south but turning colder in north with blustery wintry showers returning. Windy.
Tonight:
Rain over England and Wales, particularly western high ground and perhaps more widely here later. Colder in north with wintry showers. Windy, perhaps very windy in far north.
Sunday:
Area of heavy rain England and Wales clearing southeastwards though some sporadic lighter rain continuing. Cold in the north with further wintry showers. Windy.
Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:
Cold start Monday; rain and strong winds spreads east later. Often cloudy and mild thereafter away from the far north. Colder here with wintry showers. Rain pushes southeast Wednesday. Blustery.
