Temperatures are forecast to drop ahead of the weekend with northerly winds pushing the mercury to -7C in Scotland with southern Britain seeing low single figures

Following an unusually warm spell earlier in the month, parts of the UK are now set to be blanketed in snow with "cold and unsettled" weather.

Temperatures are forecast to drop ahead of the weekend with northerly winds pushing the mercury to -7C in Scotland with southern Britain seeing low single figures. A weather map issued by Metdesk shows the plummeting temperatures and the locations of the heaviest snowfall. Cumbria and Scotland are expected to be the worst hit with up to 10cm anticipated every hour.

The Met Office, which urges caution over long-range weather charts, has not ruled out snow falling in the UK. But it says any snow will be limited to northern hills at the weekend and then may occur "anywhere" towards the middle of the month. Between March 12 and March 26, "winter hazards such as snow, and overnight frost and ice could occur anywhere, as often happens in March, but are most likely towards the north of the country", the Met Office says.

This WXCharts maps show where snow will hit on March 2 (

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The forecaster also said heavy rain is also possible as wet weather spreads in the next 24 hours. In its outlook, it said: "Turning colder and more unsettled on Friday and Saturday, with heavy rain in some places. A risk of sleet and hill snow, possibly reaching lower levels." After spells of rain, Thursday will see drier conditions, but showers could "turn wintry in the North and on high ground."

As we head through the opening part of March, forecasters said it is "likely to be unsettled and showery" with persistent rain and strong winds possible in the South. The UK has seen nearly a third more rain than normally expected for February. Ellie Glaisyer, a Met Office meteorologist, said: "Some locations may approach or exceed record-breaking levels but for the UK as a whole it is unlikely to see the rainfall we saw in 2020. In the UK we have seen 131% of the February rainfall we would usually expect." She said there had been 78% more rain than expected in England, 53% more in Wales but slightly less (6%) than average in Scotland and nearly a fifth less (18% lower than average) in Northern Ireland.

It comes after recent temperatures produced highs of around 15C which is around five degrees higher than average for the time of year. The temperature at Kinlochewe village in Wester Ross, in the Scottish Highlands, was a new winter record for Scotland, the Met Office said.