UK set for Arctic blast and snow storms as mercury plummets

An Arctic blast of freezing winds will batter Britain during a short, sharp cold snap which will include snow, forecasters have warned.

The Met Office said the country could be hit by winds of up to 70mph, and has issued yellow severe weather warnings for much of Scotland and northern England.

Wintry showers and snow are expected to reach Scotland from Thursday morning to Friday lunchtime, with up to 20cm of snow predicted on high ground.

The mercury is likely to plummet in London on Thursday and Friday - but forecasters are predicting the capital will avoid the worst of the cold front.

A Met Office spokesman said: "The UK is going to see a very short, sharp, cold snap.

"A rapidly deepening Atlantic depression is expected to move in an easterly direction to the north of Scotland bringing westerly gales, with gusts of 60 to 70 mph extending southwards across northern and some central parts of the UK on Wednesday night and Thursday."

London will see its coldest conditions on Friday night, before temperatures are expected to pick up again on Sunday and into next week.