UK weather forecast: Arctic blast set to batter Britain with snow, sleet and 50mph winds

Power and travel could be disrupted in some regions, Met Office warns

Arctic blizzards will blast Britain this weekend with snow, sleet and 50mph winds all forecast.

Temperatures could plummet to lows of -3C during the deep freeze which will arrive late Saturday night, the Met Office says.

The cold front – sweeping south east from Scotland and Ireland – could result in up to 15cm of snow in hilly regions.

And a yellow warning for wind has been put in place for Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of western England.

“Gusts could reach 50mph, maybe a touch more than that, around coastal areas,” said meteorologist Alex Deakin. “Transport may be disrupted and possibly even power supplies too.”

The cold will spread across the country throughout Sunday and into Monday, he added, with temperatures falling below zero in parts of northern Scotland and to around 4C in central and southern areas of England.

Even lower lying regions could see up to 5cm of snow.

“Wherever you are, you’ll notice that wind because of its direction coming down from the north bringing that Arctic wind right across the country,” said Mr Mr Deakin. “Rain, sleet and hill snow will all be seen throughout Sunday.”

The weekend blast follows a week in which the mercury plunged as low as -10.2C with parts of Britain blanketed by snow on Tuesday. Police in Scotland reported dozens of accidents after roads suddenly iced over.

And, although Friday and Saturday have offered some respite with temperatures climbing to 10C in London, the cold will return with vengeance on Sunday and looks set to last well into next week.

“We will see some sunshine but don’t be fooled,” said Mr Deakin. “It will still feel cold with those winds creating a blustery feel. And the cold air will stick around for next week with chances of snow all week.”