These are the UK areas most likely to be hit with snow and ice this week
Temperatures are forecast to plummet over the next few days, with wintry conditions to hit the UK.
Winter is now in full swing, with frost, sleet, hail and snow to hit the nation from mid-week onwards.
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Hide AdWhat will the weather be like for the rest of this week?
Wednesday (2 Dec) will see a mixture of sunny spells, cloud and scattered showers in most areas, with showers heavy over Scotland and turning to snow over hills.
Wednesday evening will see early rain in the south-east, with frequent and heavy rain in the north and west, which will fall as snow over parts of Scotland and high ground as far south as Wales.
The Met Office forecasts showers and longer spells of rain across England and Wales on Thursday (3 Dec), with snow over high ground in Wales and northern England.
Wintry showers and sunny spells are also forecast for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Hide AdThe Met Office outlook for Friday (4 Dec) to Sunday (6 Dec) says it will be “Very unsettled; generally cloudy, rather cold and windy, with showers or longer spells of rain. Snow expected over hills and perhaps to lower levels at times, mainly in the north.”
Steve Ramsdale, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Although we’re going to see a few days with colder conditions, we shouldn’t be surprised that the start of winter brings a brief spell of wintry weather.
“Some parts of the UK, especially northern hills, may see snow, but for many this will only be short lived.”
However, the Met Office adds, “There is also the chance of some snow to lower levels in places later in the week though away from hills it is currently uncertain exactly where snow will fall.
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Hide Ad“In the clear periods between bands of wintry showers, frosts are likely and these could be sharp or even severe in prolonged clear conditions in north-western parts of the UK.
What will the weather be like next week?
These unsettled conditions are likely to persist into the weekend with further periods of strong winds, heavy rain and wintry showers, but how long the rather cold conditions persist is currently uncertain.
However, the wintry conditions look likely to continue into early next week.
The Met Office UK outlook for Sunday (6 Dec) to Tuesday (15 Dec) forecasts unsettled and rather cold conditions, with spells of rain and heavy showers for most.
“Any snow is most likely over the hills in the north but there is a chance of snow falling to lower levels at times,” adds the Met Office.