Snow forecast over the weekend

02 February 2012

Drivers should brace themselves for taking extra care on the roads as snow is forecast this weekend.

After a mild January, daytime temperatures have plummeted to four or five degrees lower than average in February, which is traditionally the coldest month of the year.

The latest forecasts predict a cold front will sweep from the west across the south and east of the UK on Saturday, with snow likely.

Yesterday's temperatures hovered between 1C and 4C but today they are expected to drop considerably in some areas to below freezing in the daytime and as low as -10C tonight.

However, the UK can expect the freeze to give way to some milder temperatures on Monday.

A forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, Aisling Creevey, said that on Saturday people will see a 24-hour period where most of the country will receive snow.

"Scotland could see between five and 10cm of snow on Saturday, and there could be 2-5cm across England and Wales," the expert said.

Driving can be difficult in snowy conditions and vehicle owners are advised to ensure they have breakdown cover in case of problems.

Copyright Press Association 2012