Britain is set to be hit with sweeping snow as weather maps show exactly when the white stuff can be expected to make an appearance today.
Today, February 8, at around 9am, will see snow explode onto the scene, as it huge swathes of the Midlands and North of England are forecast to get a blanketing.
It is also expected to reach Northern Ireland and spread into Scotland on Friday (February 9). It has been accompanied by a series of weather warnings from the Met Office.
The weather agency warns of a “risk to life” as it issues rare amber warnings for the coming days. As much as 5cm of snow an hour is predicted for parts of England, which some forecasts suggested an accumulation of 25cm in parts of the UK.
The Met Office’s amber warning for snow, which comes into effect at 12pm, warns of travel delays and power cuts.
Rural communities may also become cut off, the weather agency said. The Met Office’s amber warning for snow on Thursday in central areas of England says: “Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers.
“Power cuts are possible and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected. Some delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely.
“There is a good chance that some rural communities could become temporarily cut off”.
Jim Dale, senior meteorological consultant at British Weather Services, told Express.co.uk about the “battleground” of snow which will cover the Midlands, Peak District, Manchester, North East England including Yorkshire and North Yorkshire and North Wales.
He said: “The focus is on the bigger hills and the villages and towns around them. This is a very typical winter set up but the battleground is in the central areas of the UK – with the south really escaping.
“The potential for severe weather is there so keep your finger on the pulse particularly if you are travelling.” The more dangerous amber warnings cover the Peak District and south Pennines, as well as a large part of north Wales.
Meanwhile, the majority of the UK is under yellow weather warnings for snow and ice for most of today. The only exception is across the south a large warning for rain is in place as temperatures fail to fall as low as those north of the Midlands.
Today
Rain, sleet and snow pushes northwards through Thursday. Snow confined to North Wales, Northern Ireland and northern England, mainly on high ground. Snow turning to freezing rain for north Wales bringing icy stretches. Brighter spells and heavy rain further south.
Tonight
Rain and snow continue to track northwards into Scotland overnight but intensities decrease. A widespread frost expected away from coasts in the north but more rain moves in further south.
Friday
Wintry showers continue in the far north. Band of rain and hill snow across central areas move northwards through the day. Cloudy in the south with some showers, locally heavy.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday
Largely cloudy on Saturday with some rain in the south, and wintry showers further north. Drier in the east on Sunday with light winds, cloudier in the west.
