Met Office pinpoints two regions at risk of snow as brutal -7C cold snap to hit in hours

The has warned that could be accompanied by across England and Wales this week.

The forecaster said high pressure moving in from the south-east would usher in a drop in the mercury tomorrow (February 7) and the possibility of a dusting of snow in two areas of the UK.

show snow depths of around 60mm beginning to accumulate around Southampton and on the south eastern Welsh coast at around 6pm on Friday and continuing into the early hours of Saturday morning.

The blitz of wintry weather further across the south to Birmingham, Oxford, Bristol and Devon by 9pm on Friday.

spokesperson Stephen Dixon said parts of rural Scotland could also experience lows of -7C overnight on Friday, with sub-zero temperatures also likely in southern regions and parts of Wales potentially reaching -4C over the weekend.

He said daytime temperatures in the UK will likely hover just below the seasonal average for February, of around 7C, on Saturday and Sunday – describing the cold snap as “not historically noteworthy”.

He added: “February has started warmer than average, so it’s going to be a return to more typical February averages, albeit a bit colder.

“From Friday, there’s a chance of some snow drifting into parts of the south of England and south Wales, however this is relatively short-lived [and is] not expected to be impactful at the moment.”

High ground in Wales could be especially poised for a dusting of white, the warned, with potentially hazardous icy patches a cause for concern in the two regions over the next few days.

The has warned of a cold easterly wind moving across the country at the end of this week, accompanied by an increased risk of snow, ice and low temperatures.

The national meteorological service has also anticipated a continued “cold east or south-easterly air-flow” across the UK continuing into mid-February and centrally impacting regions in southern England next week.

The UK Heath Security Agency (UKHSA) including the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber and the South East.

The alerts, which indicate an increased reliance on healthcare services by vulnerable people and consequently a greater risk to life, will be in force from 9am on Friday until 9am next Tuesday.

Emma Rubach, head of health advice at the lung charity Asthma + Lung UK, also warned those with conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to be especially vigilant during the upcoming cold weather.

She said the forecasted drop in the mercury could cause coughing and wheezing and leave those affected struggling to breathe as the cold air “cause[s] the airways to narrow, [increasing] the amount of mucus produced and making breathing harder.”

“Cold, dry air can also irritate the airways and worsen symptoms of asthma and other lung conditions and weakens the immune system, making it harder to fight respiratory infections like colds and flu which are still doing the rounds,” she added.

The Met Office’s five-day weather forecast:

Today:

A cold and icy start across most of the country, broken up by sunshine and dry conditions later in the day. Some wind and cloud gathering along the English channel in the afternoon and in northwestern Scotland.

Tonight:

Clouds gathering for most of the UK during the evening and winds picking up in southern regions. Some showers possible in the south overnight.

Friday:

Sunshine in northern areas but cloudy and grey conditions expected for the rest of England and Wales alongside wintry showers.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

A chilly breeze could continue to pick up over the next few days, moving in from the east. Some sunny spells in the northwest, with rain, sleet and snow possible in the south.