Met Office satellite images show Storm Bert 'brewing in the Atlantic' before it hits UK

The Met Office has shared satellite images that show Storm Bert 'brewing in the Atlantic' before it is due to hit the UK this weekend.

The storm is set to bring heavy snow, strong winds and more rain to most of the country. The Met Office has issued several weather warnings in the lead up to the storm's arrival.

Posting images of the storm's progress on X, formerly Twitter, the Met Office said: "What a difference a day will make! The current satellite picture shows the mainly fine conditions across the UK today... But also Storm Bert brewing in the Atlantic."

READ MORE: All the places snow will fall in England on Saturday, according to the Met Office

The graphic shows the UK currently with little cloud over it, especially towards the south of the country. It then zooms out to show a large area of low pressure forming over the Atlantic which will hit the UK as Storm Bert in the early hours of Saturday.

While Storm Bert is expected to bring some hazardous conditions to the UK, including strong winds, heavy rain and disruptive snow, it will also signal the end of the recent cold snap, according to forecasters. "The current cold spell is set to end as Storm Bert arrives into Saturday with temperatures returning to above average for the time of year as we go through the weekend," the Met Office said.

High up parts of Scotland look set to be worst hit by the storm. An amber alert for heavy snow and ice will be in force between 7am and 5pm on Saturday in an area north of Scotland’s central belt. The Met Office said 10 to 20cm is likely on ground above 200 metres and potentially as much as 20 to 40cm on hills above 400 metres.

Meanwhile, yellow wind, rain and snow warnings cover much of the rest of the UK. Rain and snow warnings cover northern England from 4am to 9am and much of Wales from 6am on Saturday until 6am on Sunday. A wind warning also covers coastal areas of southern England from 3pm until 9pm on Saturday.

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said Storm Bert was going to be a "multi-hazard event" with "strong winds, some high snowfall accumulation and heavy rain" in several different parts of the UK.

He said: "It’s quite a complex weather set-up for the weekend. Generally speaking, it’s a very unsettled weekend of weather ahead.

"Because of the different nature of the weather across the UK, people really need to have an idea of what the forecast is for them specifically.

"Further south it’s wind and rain, further north it’s snow then rain and wind. So it really depends on where you are in the UK. Keep on top of the forecast for your area, and prepare as necessary."