Image of a Snow Covered Landscape

Residents in Britain should be preparing for snow to hit the country this weekend as the bitterly cold weather continues to take hold of the country.

The current cold weather, that has seen the daytime temperatures plummet to between 4-6°c lower than the predicted and usual average February temperatures, even though it is typically the coldest month of the year for Britons.

Forcasters said Saturday will see a cold front sweep south and east across the UK from the west, resulting in snow where slightly milder air meets cold air.

Aisling Creevey, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "Today is set to be bitterly cold, with a few snow flurries in the east of England. There will be maximum temperatures of 3C and 4C but many places won't get above freezing".

"Overnight will be very cold, with temperatures down to -8C, maybe -9C and -10C in some places".

"As we go into Friday we are looking at some snow showers affecting the eastern part of England, mainly in the south".

Ms Creevey said a 24-hour period from Saturday would see much of the country experience snow as a front moves in from the west. "Scotland could see between 5 and 10cm of snow on Saturday, and there could be 2-5cm across England and Wales. But south-west England is likely to see rain rather than snow".

Respite from the big freeze is not expected until Monday, when milder temperatures are expected, along with frost overnight.

Thursday February 2^nd 2012
The Onlines