Ice Warnings As British Temperatures Plummet

27th January 2012, 08:16

Britain is set to be blasted by cold weather with predicted temperatures of -5C this weekend.

Snow is forecast in some regions as a warm Atlantic weather system from the west clashes with cold air from the east.

Elsewhere there will be widespread showers and hail.

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for ice to motorists travelling on untreated roads in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and northern England after temperatures dipped on Thursday night.

Issuing its yellow "be aware" warning, it said: "Icy stretches are expected to form on untreated surfaces, especially in places affected by showers.

"The showers will fall as snow above about 250m, but there may be temporary slush deposits to lower levels. The public should be aware of possible travel disruption."

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "After a winter that has yo-yoed between mild conditions and the occasional cold spell, it looks as though a high pressure system over north-eastern Europe is going to feed Arctic air into Britain over the next few days. 

"How long this cold snap will last is largely dependent on the drift of that high pressure system. 

"If it edges north, then it could bring some sustained wintry weather to central and eastern parts of the country. 

"A slide southwards however, would give some cold conditions for a few days, but little in the way of snow. 

"Over the coming weekend, milder conditions from the Atlantic will try to spread in across Scotland and Northern Ireland. This rain, meeting up with the cold air in residence, could give some snowfall on Monday."

Temperatures are predicted to drop to between -1C and -5C in the north overnight, with a southerly low of -1C.

During Saturday and Sunday temperatures are expected to range between 4C-7C across Britain with lows of -1C during the night.

Snow fell over high ground in Wales, northern parts of England and Scotland on Thursday, reaching depths of between 1-4cm.

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