Britain is set to be blasted by freezing wind, sheet ice and snow showers tonight – but how will your area be affected?

An icy blast of snow will hit the UK this weekend straight from the North Pole, mild November temperatures are giving way to widespread overnight frosts and weather warnings are in place across the North.

Yellow severe weather warnings are in place from now until 10am tomorrow - Friday, as already ice and snow have caused chaos across parts of the north and Scotland.

The Met Office warned of travel disruption over the next 24 hours as the big freeze hits northern England, including the Pennines and the Yorkshire Moors, with drivers warned to prepare for the cold snap.

The weather warning for snow covers Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria, and North Yorkshire.

The Met Office said "polar maritime air" was making its way across the country.

The Met Office has issued warnings for snow and ice in the UK

But luckily the cold spell will be followed by brighter weather and even some sunshine at the weekend.

Met Office chief meteorologist Dan Suri said: "It'll certainly feel more wintry this week, with colder weather bringing a risk of frost, ice and wintry showers.

"The risk of snow accumulating is largely confined to the northern half of the UK - mainly over higher ground in Scotland, Wales and northern England."

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Deputy chief meteorologist Dan Harris added: "It'll stay cold into the weekend with rain, showers and hill snow, along with overnight frosts.

"We could also see some stubborn areas of freezing fog develop more widely, which at this time of year can persist all day.

"However, it's not all doom and gloom, as there's likely to be an increased chance of dry, bright, and perhaps even sunny weather on offer as the weekend progresses."

The Met Office said temperatures going into next week would be lower than the average annual temperature, which is usually around 7-9C.

A warning triangle alerts drivers to an icy road (
Image:
Getty Images)

"The first severe weather warning of the winter for snow and ice is always a timely reminder for people to check they are winter ready and have made appropriate preparations," added Dan.

There were severe weather warnings in place for Scotland, with snow forecast for higher ground. Drivers were urged to make sure they were ready for the conditions, with an army of gritters on standby across the UK.

Traffic Scotland operator manager Douglas Cairns said: “The first severe weather warning of the winter is always a timely reminder for people to check they are winter ready.

A woman walks through Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park as snow falls during a weather front (
Image:
Getty Images)

“A record number of gritters are available. We are grateful to our frontline teams for the comprehensive planning and preparations.”

The cold is likely to remain into the week-end, especially north of the border.

“We’re keeping an eye on other areas where there is potential for disruptive snow - in particular central and south-east England and the hills of northern England," Met Office’s Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Harris added.

Southwest England

A cyclist braves the snow on the A354 on February 1, 2019 in Dorchester (
Image:
Getty Images)

Tonight will see snow accumulate on hills while sleet will fall as temperatures drop to zero.

There will be further outbreaks of rain tonight and overnight, across Devon and Cornwall, with some snow over the moors.

Further east will be drier, with some clear breaks though still some showers.

There is a risk of patchy fog and localised frost.

Friday will see some lingering showers through the morning, then mostly dry with sunny intervals during the afternoon.

A spell of rain will arrive from the west through the evening.

Maximum temperature will be 8C.

There will showers for many on Saturday, becoming drier during Sunday and Monday though there will be a few scattered showers.

The weekend will feel cold with some frost and there is the risk of morning fog patches.

London and Southeast England

A train transports weekday commuters to London in snow and ice (
Image:
Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Tonight will be cold, with rain and wintry snow on hills as temperatures will drop to as low as zero.

But it will become brighter through Friday.

Tonight will be cold, with developing clear spells leading to a slight frost for many.

It will remain rather cloudy, breezy and wet in the southeast however, perhaps leading to some sleet here generally, or even a little snow on hills briefly.

Minimum temperature will be 0C.

Friday will have a cold and rather cloudy start, with early rain, perhaps wintry on hills.

This should largely clear northeast by lunch, leaving a brighter, breezier afternoon with isolated blustery rain showers.

Maximum temperature will be 7C.

The Met Office says conditions in the southeast are uncertain for Saturday through to Monday, but it is likely to be cold throughout.

Initial rain and showers may perhaps give way to a drier spell with fog and frost more prevalent into the new week.

East of England

A man runs as snow falls in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park (
Image:
Getty Images)

Tonight will be cold and wet, but may gradually become brighter for many people on Friday.

Tonight will be cloudy, cold and wet overnight, with further pulses of rain spreading in, perhaps leading to some sleet, or perhaps briefly snow in heavier bursts.

It will become murky in places towards dawn as winds ease, with frost possible in lasting clearer spells.

Minimum temperature will be 1C.

Friday will be cold and cloudy, with rain and perhaps briefly some sleet.

These conditions will probably clear in most parts northwards by lunch, leaving a brighter, breezier afternoon for many with isolated showers.

Maximum temperature will be 6C.

The Met Office says conditions in the east of England are uncertain for Saturday through to Monday, but it is likely to be cold throughout.

Initial rain and showers could perhaps give way to a drier spell with fog and frost more prevalent into the new week.

West Midlands

Tonight will have a wet start, turning drier by Friday morning.

There will be some heavy and persistent rain bringing the risk of snow over the hills.

It will turn drier for most though staying cloudy, perhaps with some fog and localised frost by dawn.

Minimum temperature will be 0C.

A woman feeds birds and swans as snow falls in Kensington Gardens (
Image:
Getty Images)

Friday will begin cloudy with further outbreaks of rain, some sleet or snow still possible over the highest ground.

It will feel cold with temperatures below average. Maximum temperature will be 6C.

There will be spells of rain on Saturday morning, which will become clearer with drier and bright spells possible.

It will be drier and mostly cloudy during Sunday and Monday, but will stay cold with overnight frosts and freezing fog.

East Midlands

Tonight will be cloudy and cold with some snow, mainly on hills.

Tonight and overnight will be rather cloudy, cold and wet, with further pulses of rain spreading in, perhaps leading to some sleet, or briefly snow in heavier bursts.

It will become murky in places towards dawn as winds ease, with frost possible in lasting clearer spells.

Minimum temperature will be -1C.

Friday will be cloudy, cold and rather wet, with further pulses of rain and hill snow spreading northwestwards initially, but later stalling over the region, likely giving murky conditions as winds fall light.

Ice warning road sign on the A542 Horseshoe Pass near Llangollen, north Wales (
Image:
Ian Cooper/Daily Post Wales)

Maximum temperature will be 6C.

The Met Office says conditions for the east Midlands are uncertain for Saturday through to Monday, but it is likely to be cold throughout.

Initial rain, showers and hill snow could give way to a drier spell with fog and frost into the new week.

Northwest England

There will be wintry showers overnight tonight, turning drier by Friday morning.

There will be showery outbreaks of rain across the region overnight, heavy at times, with some sleet and snow expected, mainly over the hills.

It will turn drier through the night but remain cloudy.

It will feel hilly, with fog patches and morning frost developing.

Minimum temperature will be -1C.

Friday will start cloudy, with overnight lingering rain, sleet and snow clearing.

It will then be dry for a time before further outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, arrive by the afternoon.

Maximum temperature will be 5C.

There will be dry and bright spells to start on Saturday then wintry showers arriving later.

It will be drier on Sunday and Monday but mostly cloudy, staying cold with overnight frosts and freezing fog.

The severe weather warning for snow covers this region.

Northeast England

Tonight will be cloudy and cold with some snow, mainly on hills.

It will be cold, wet and cloudy overnight, with light onshore winds.

Some hill snow is possible to lower levels inland for a time, perhaps giving some slight slushy desposits.

It will become drier for many towards dawn, with frost and icy patches possible.

Minimum temperature will be -2C.

Friday will be cloudy, cold and wet, with further pulses of rain and hill snow spreading westwards.

Low cloud will become extensive later, giving murky conditions as winds fall light.

It will be breezier and showery overnight.

Maximum temperature will be 7C.

The Met Office says conditions for north east England are uncertain for Saturday through to Monday, but it is likely to be cold throughout.

Initial rain, showers and hill snow could give way to a drier spell with fog and frost into the new week.

The severe weather warning for snow covers this region.

Scotland

A gritter lorry drives down a road after snowfall in Pitlochry, Scotland, December 3, 2020 (
Image:
REUTERS)

The yellow warning covers most of Lanarkshire with some areas expected to be hit worse than others. Around 20cm of snow could accumulate in some parts of the country.

Areas in Lanarkshire woke up to the white stuff this morning as temperatures dropped overnight.

And the Met Office is anticipating some persistent snow showers to descend on north eastern, southern and central areas of Scotland from early Friday morning.

Temperatures in Hamilton are expected to drop to one degree Celsius tonight with a high chance of snow in the early hours of the morning, potentially lasting to around midday.

Snow is expected to arrive from the east and locals are urged to take care on the roads as the wintry weather could result in difficult driving conditions.

A forecast from the Met Office reads: "Increasing cloud will bring outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow westward overnight, snow becoming confined to higher ground towards dawn.

"[Friday] Rain, sleet and hill snow will turn patchy through the morning. Becoming mostly dry by early afternoon, but further rain or showers in the evening. Maximum temperature four degrees Celsius."

Members of the public make their way through the snow on February 28, in Glasgow (
Image:
Getty Images)

Sunday will mark 10 years since one of the worst snowstorms to ever hit the country brought Lanarkshire to a complete standstill.

A blizzard wreaked havoc as workers were stranded in offices overnight, cars were abandoned on blocked roads and people battled through freezing temperatures to get home.

The entire county was shrouded in a blanket of the white stuff following a massive snowfall on Monday, December 6, 2010.

Journeys that normally took a matter of minutes lasted for hours as the rarely-seen conditions proved chaotic for locals.

Temperatures plunged to a bone-chilling minus-19 degrees in parts of the region, causing the snowfall to freeze, further compounding drivers' misery.

There is a yellow severe weather warning for ice for parts of Scotland, until 10am tomorrow - Friday.

The Met Office warns of the danger of some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces, and probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

This warning applies to Highlands & Eilean Siar - Na h-Eileanan Siar and Highland, as well as Strathclyde - Argyll and Bute.

Northern Ireland

There will be some showers in the north tonight, with strong winds and rain on Friday.

Tonight will be largely dry with clear spells and a widespread frost, some freezing fog patches.

A few showers are expected in the north, leading to icy patches on untreated surfaces.

North or northeast winds will strengthen later in the night.

Minimum temperature will be -2C.

Friday will see strong northeast winds with occasionally heavy rain in the morning, wintery on hills.

Rain will turns increasingly patchy through the afternoon, but winds will remain strong with a risk of coastal gales.

People walk a dog in the snow in the Wicklow Gap, Co Wicklow (
Image:
PA)

Maximum temperature will be 6C.

Any overnight rain will clear soon on Saturday, then it will be a cold and bright weekend with the odd shower.

It will be mostly dry on Monday, but with overnight frost and freezing fog patches.

There is a yellow severe weather warning for ice for Northern Ireland, until 10am tomorrow - Friday.

The Met Office warns of the danger of some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces, and probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

This warning applies to County Antrim, County Londonderry and County Tyrone.

Wales

Bwlch mountain road closed due to snow in January 2013 (
Image:
Mirrorpix)

Tonight will feel cold with showers of rain, sleet and hill snow.

Tonight will see wintry showers, heavy at times, and these will continue throughout the night.

Any sleet and snow will be mainly confined to the higher ground.

It will feel chilly with a touch of frost and fog.

Minimum temperature will be 0C.

Friday will see some dry and bright weather, particularly for central and southern parts.

Further rain will arrive by the afternoon, heavy at times, accompanied with sleet and snow over the hills.

Maximum temperature will be 7C.

There will be showers for many on Saturday.

It will be drier during Sunday and Monday, though a few scattered showers.

It will feel cold with some frost and the risk of morning fog patches.