Met Office issues snow update as up to 20cm set to fall on parts of UK

The Met Office has warned that some parts of the UK could see up to 20cm of snow as a blast of 'cold arctic air' moves across the country.

Part of north Scotland and the Scottish isles are expected to get heavy showers over the weekend which will turn into hail, sleet and snow by Monday morning.

However by early next week snow showers could move down into the Lake District and parts of northern and north west England.

Read more: Met Office snow map shows where it will fall in UK this weekend amid 'major change'

By the middle of the week, the whole of the UK is expected to be hit with the cold air, with a continuation of wintry showers - especially along coasts in the north, according to the Met Office’s latest warnings.

A yellow warning of snow and ice is in place for northern Scotland between 4pm on Sunday and 11am on Monday. A separate snow and ice warning is in place for central and southern Scotland, northern England, the north east and north west - including large parts of Lancashire but not Greater Manchester, from 10am on Monday to 10am on Tuesday.

In their latest forecast the Met Office said from Sunday afternoon to Monday morning snow is unlikely to settle at low levels by day, but through the evening and overnight, 1 to 3 cm may accumulate in some places within the warning area. Five to 10 cm is possible on high ground above 300 metres by Monday morning.

Monday and overnight into Tuesday morning 5 to 10 cm possible in locations above 300 metres in elevation and as much as 15 to 20 cm above 400 metres. Snow could also settle at lower levels.

A number of snow and ice weather warnings have now been issued for Scotland and the north west and north east of England.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Rebekah Hicks added: “A notable early winter cold spell will arrive across the north from Sunday and will likely reach all parts of the UK by midweek.

“Temperatures will drop as a northerly airflow develops, bringing in colder Arctic air. This introduces the possibility of snow, initially over high ground in the north from Sunday, with gusty winds also a potential hazard.

“As the cold air spreads south, wintry weather is possible more widely, and a snow and ice warning has already been issued for parts of Scotland and Northern England for early next week.

“Updates to the warnings for wintry hazards are likely, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest forecast.”

A Cold Health Alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The alert covers the Midlands and North of England from Sunday morning through to Thursday.