Freezing winds to sweep across UK (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Freezing winds to sweep across UK

5:50am Saturday 23rd February 2013 in National News © Press Association 2013

Snow and sleet are set to hit parts of north England as freezing winds sweep across Britain.

Snow flurries overnight and throughout the morning will coat most of the north with between 2cm and 5cms, while higher ground could see up to 8cms, (3ins) the Met Office has said.

Temperatures which plunged at the beginning of the week will remain low over the weekend at around 4 degrees - but coupled with the wind chill factor could feel more like -4 degrees.

The Met Office has warned of possible disruption to travel in north east and north west England, following the snow fall.

A forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "The snow is likely to affect most of the north with around 2cms at least.

"But further snow later today is unlikely to settle.

"It will remain cold this weekend, below average for this time of year, with the chilly north-easterly winds making it feel even colder. It could feel like -5 degrees in the south east and East-Anglia where the winds will be strongest."

The chilly winds, snow and sleet have been coming in from the North Sea.

Temperatures are expected to rise from Monday to more normal levels for the time of year, and reach as high as 7C or 8C in the south by the end of the week.

More cold winds could come in from the north west around that time, though there is no sign of a return to the significant snowfall seen earlier this winter, or of a sustained mild spell.