Heavy snow could fall across parts of the UK overnight Sunday and into Monday, as a northerly airflow sweeps across the country and temperatures plummet.
A level two cold weather alert is in place from 6pm on Sunday to 9am on Thursday and covers the North, Midlands, and central and eastern parts of England.
The Met Office has warned that there is a 70% probability of severe cold weather, icy conditions and heavy snow, and has urged people in those regions to stock up on food and medicines to reduce the need to go outside.
London, the South, and South West is subject to a level one alert, which encourages people to stay vigilant.
"By Sunday most of the UK will be in the northerly airflow, with lower temperatures spreading further south overnight," the Met Office said.
"Showers will fall increasingly as sleet and snow in the north, even to lower levels. Some showers further South and West, and perhaps a more persistent spell of rain overnight into Monday, could also turn to sleet and snow mainly over high ground such as the Brecon Beacons, Exmoor and Dartmoor.
"Overnight frost will become more widespread by Monday night, with overnight temperatures below 0°C across much of the UK. Temperatures could get down to -10°C in sheltered glens, or across high ground areas of Scotland where there is lying snow."
A yellow warning for ice covering much of Scotland and the north-west and north-east of England suggests there could be “icy surfaces and high-ground snow leading to some difficult travelling conditions in places on Saturday night and Sunday morning”, the Met Office added.
Expected “frequent wintry” snow showers have also seen the Met Office issue a yellow warning for snow and ice for northern Scotland from Sunday through to Wednesday.
The Met Office forecasters said: “A few centimetres of snow are likely at low levels over a given 24-hour period, with the potential for 10-15cm above 200 metres, especially across parts of the Highlands. Ice will be additional hazard, especially Tuesday night.”
Residents are urged to take care as there may be some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths and some roads and railways are likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.
The Met Office Five Day Forecast is as follows:
Today:
Sunny spells and scattered showers, falling increasingly as snow in the north but a mixture of rain and hail further south. A good deal of dry weather in central and eastern parts. Winds easing away from the northeast. Feeling colder
Tonight:
Snow showers in the north with a widespread frost. Outbreaks of rain and hill snow developing in central areas. Rain, perhaps turning wintry over hills affecting the far south.
Monday:
Rain clearing from the far southeast with wintry showers following, mainly across the north, but also windward coasts elsewhere. Dry with sunny spells inland. Cold, particularly in the north
Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:
Widely cold with wintry showers, especially across the north but also to areas further south at times. Some sharp overnight frosts likely before turning less cold in the west Thursday.
