Are we really going to get 5ft of snow this weekend? (Spoiler alert: no)

After one of the wettest Januaries on record, the UK is braced for a mini cold snap – and a good chance of snow.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across Scotland and north east England from Thursday until Friday.

Forecasters say some areas could see up to 10cm of snow settle, amid warnings of icy patches disrupting travel and endangering drivers.

Southern England is also set to see a sudden drop in temperature. So should residents be icing driveways and cranking up the heating in expectation of a white February?

Some reports even suggest 5ft of snow could land on parts of the country – but will it?

Where is snow expected?

A large patch of northern England – stretching between Manchester, Newcastle, Carlisle and York – has been hit with a yellow weather warning.

The snow and ice alert is in place from 7pm on Thursday until 12pm on Friday.

People have been warned to watch out for icy patches on roads and disruption to roads and railways.

Scotland also has a snow and ice alert in place from 4pm on Thursday until 12pm on Friday.

Settled snow ranging from 1cm on lower ground, to 10cm at higher elevations, is expected.

Scots should expect travel delays and icy patches on untreated roads and paths.

The Met Office wrote: ‘Outbreaks of rain will fall as snow over higher hills initially, before the snow starts to fall to lower levels through Thursday evening.

‘Any settling snow will mainly be confined to high ground. Above 200 meters, 2 to 5 cm is possible, and above 300 meters, a few locations may see as much as 10 cm.

‘The rain and snow is expected to clear south during the early hours of Friday with temperatures expected to fall quickly as skies clear, leading to ice on untreated surfaces.’

Wales could also see snowfall although it is expected to be light if anything.

Will it snow in London or southern England?

After a fairly balmy Wednesday, with thermometers clocking 12 degrees in London, temperatures should fall on Thursday night.

Londoners could wake up to a chilly 4°C on Friday morning, and a teeth-chattering 1°C on Saturday.

However, there is only a very slim chance of snow in the capital or southern England, which is instead expecting more rainfall until Friday.

Tom Morgan, a weather forecaster at the Met Office, said: ‘Unfortunately for people that like snow it’s going to be mainly rainy.

‘From the afternoon through to the evening on Friday there could be some snow mixed in with the rain.

‘It’s one to keep an eye on but the best case or worst case scenario – depending on your perspective – is a slushy centimeter.’

Instead, a big band of wet weather will gather in the Atlantic on Saturday before engulfing the UK on Sunday.

There were 82 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, and 148 flood alerts, where flooding is possible, in place for England on Wednesday afternoon.

A large proportion of these are in Devon, which has already been inundated by successive storms, and Wiltshire.

However, Tom did share a bit of news that might offer a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak forecast.

‘Londoners are getting pretty sick of the unrelenting rain but there is a sunny day on Sunday so make the most of it.’

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