Met Office major snow 'warning' as almost all of UK expected to plunge to -4C in days

Met Office forecasters have told Brits to prepare for a 'messy mixture of rain, sleet and snow' from as early as Sunday and moving into next week. Major cities are expected to be hit

Brits have been warned to get out their hats and scarves after forecasters issued a snow warning across the UK.

The Met Office revealed that snow could appear in the forecast as soon as Sunday, alongside fierce winds which could be a "potential hazard". The change in conditions will hit the UK around the same time as temperatures are expected to plummet to -4C.

New maps by WXCharts revealed that major cities could be scattered white this weekend, with further snow predicted for next week. Scotland is also set to experience the conditions. According to the data, areas across Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Plymouth could be struck by snow.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Rebekah Hicks said: “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.”

The meteorologist explained that computer models displayed several different scenarios for the week ahead. She added: “There is a lot of uncertainty in what might happen after Sunday, but there are a number of scenarios which could bring some more widespread rain, along with some hill snow and stronger winds.

"It is possible that there may be some more widespread snowfall across lower ground, but the chance of this for any given region is low at this stage. What we do know is that the whole of the UK is likely to experience a spell of several days of cold, potentially disruptive weather next week. Warnings for wintry hazards, including snow and ice, are possible, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest forecast.”

Tom Morgan, a meteorologist at the Met Office, warned people to prepare for a "messy mixture of rain, sleet and snow." He said: “The really cold air is likely to arrive next week and there will be some snow in parts of the UK.

“And also quite windy conditions, probably on Monday, in parts of the UK, but all areas will turn cold with wintry showers probably by Wednesday. If you’ve got travel plans next week, it’s worth making sure your car is all geared up for winter conditions.”

Mr Morgan added: “It is fairly unusual in the south. It’s quite early in the month for a cold spell such as this. We often have rapid changes in the weather in the UK, the main reason for the big change next week is a sudden change in the orientation of the jet stream. At this point, anywhere in the UK has a chance of seeing snow and ice and frost by night, particularly from mid-week onwards.”