THE chances of Dorset experencing heavy snowfall this week appear unlikely according to some of the region's weather forecasters.

While Met Office weather warnings have been issued in Scotland for today and tomorrow, it appears the south coast will go without.

Bournemouth-based weather enthusiast Dorset Snow said there will not be a big snow event in the region but he said residents could see some "wintry showers" tomorrow.

He told the Daily Echo: "Looking at 6am to 9am when they could be bobbing around. A mix of rain/sleet with some snow possible for a time further inland for rural and elevated areas."

Fellow Bournemouth-based forecaster Bournemouth & Poole Weather said it was an incredibly tricky forecast to assess, with weather events likely to be very localised.

However, he said there was potential for the picture to change later today.

He told the Daily Echo: "It’s an incredibly tricky forecast as always, and a few miles west or east will likely mean the difference between dry, light rain, heavy cold rain and snow.

"We could see some sleetiness however I don’t think the forecast will firm up until tonight."

The Met Office's forecast for the south west says tonight will bring: "Patchy cloud at first with scattered showers. Cloud thickening during the early hours with longer spells of rain and possible hill snow. A risk of patchy fog and localised frosts. Minimum temperature 1C."

On Friday they forcaste: "Morning fog patches and spells of rain first thing, before turning brighter around midday with sunny spells during the afternoon. Turning increasingly cloudy with outbreaks of rain during the evening. Maximum temperature 8C."