New snow map shows exactly when and where it will fall in UK - including Manchester

Snow could hit the UK later this month, with some parts of the country set to see the white stuff in a matter of days.

Temperatures are expected to plummet in the coming weeks, leaving vast swathes of the British Isles in the low single figures and below thick cloud by the weekend.

The Met Office says snow could fall in parts of the UK this weekend, mainly centred around the Scottish Highlands. A map issued by the Met Office has shown how a blast of 'cold Arctic air' will sweep over the nation by the weekend with some rural areas, including the north west, set to see temperatures plummet to -2C from today (November 12).

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Speaking of the coming days, Met Office meteorologist Zoe Hutin said on Monday: “There is a chance of seeing some snow from the weekend onwards, but nowhere that we wouldn’t expect to see at this time of year. I don’t think we’ll be seeing snow in London, it’s not entirely out of the question, (but) there’s a very, very low probability, just like there always is. I think it’s pretty confident to say that it’s unlikely to see snow in the south of England.”

And weather maps from WXCharts suggest more snowfall could hit the country towards the end of the month. Wintry weather is expected on around Saturday November 23, and will be particularly heavy across Scotland. Greater Manchester could also see snow on the same day, the Mirror reports.

The new weather maps, which use data from MetDesk, indicate temperatures will largely remain cold for the rest of the month, culminating in the snow in around two weeks' time.

Areas of high ground, including the major national parks of the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales and Lake District, could see between 6cm and 11cm of snow, WXCharts says. The highest totals, unsurprisingly, are expected in northwestern Scotland in the Highlands, with the highest ground naturally expecting the most snow.

In the Met Office's latest long-range forecast, which covers November 16 to 25, the agency states that rain and showers will come to most regions and turn "wintry". But it has said the chances of any "widespread or disruptive" snowfall are low, with the south set to see "a fair amount of fine and dry weather".

The forecast states: "Turning more unsettled and significantly colder as we head into the weekend with low pressure probably becoming established to the east of the UK bringing rain or showers to most regions. The heaviest and most frequent spells of rain are most likely in the north where they are likely to turn wintry, especially to the hills of Scotland, but perhaps also to lower levels as colder air digs south.

"The chance of any widespread or disruptive snowfall affecting more populated areas at this stage however remains low. Parts of the south may well see a fair amount of fine and dry weather. Often windy, with a chance of gales at times, especially in the north and east. Temperatures falling below average and feeling particularly cold in the strong winds."