Weather forecast live: Met Office issues snow warning this week as heavy rain pelts Scotland

There are currently three weather warnings in place this week as heavy rain, snow and ice are all expected to descend upon the country.

Up to 20cm of snow could settle on higher ground as a band of cold air pushes north on Thursday.

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There is a yellow snow and ice warning in place today across northern Scotland.

Snow is likely to cause disruption across the Shetland Islands with a warning in place from 3am to 3pm today.

An ice warning is in place across northern Scotland as meteorologists warn of injuries from hazardous slippery surfaces.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow for parts of England and Wales this week.

Wintry showers will hit the regions during the early hours of Thursday morning and will last until early hours of Friday.

“A band of rain, sleet, and increasingly snow, will push north on Thursday bringing up to 2cm snow at lower-levels, 2-5cm on ground above 200m, and perhaps as much as 10-20cm above 400m,” the Met Office said.

The warning affects East Midlands, East of England, North East England, North West England, Wales, West Midlands, and Yorkshire & Humber.

The snowfall and icy conditions forecast for this week are a result of a “clash of air masses” occurring across the UK this week.

As cold Arctic air pushes in from the north, it will clash with the mild Atlantic air mass coming in from the south, resulting in snowfall in the middle part of the country.

A yellow warning has been issued for up to 20cm of “disruptive snow” on Thursday.

“It’s from Thursday that the snow risk becomes more potentially impactful, as mild air attempts to move back in from the south, bumping into the cold air and increasing the chance of snow developing on the leading edge,” Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said.

Two yellow weather warnings are in force in the UK today.

The Shetlands are under a yellow weather warning for snow until 3pm with with “frequent snow showers or longer spells of snow” affecting the area, according to the Met Office.

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The forecaster has also warned of possible delays in air and road travel.

Northern parts of Scotland are under a yellow weather warning for icy patches until 9am.

Here is the map of the affected areas.

A band of rain dumping water in the north is expected to gradually move southwards today, making way for colder conditions and snowfall.

Rainfall is expected across much of Western Scotland and then England and Wales today, with totals likely to be highest in western areas, the Met Office said.

The far south of England will stay dry, breezy, largely cloudy and mild during the day but rain is expected to move by the end of the day after drenching other parts.

The Shetland archipelago is under a yellow weather warning for snow while much Scotland is under yellow warning for ice as colder air grips the northern parts starting today.

Temperatures could drop as low as –10°C in rural parts of Scotland on Wednesday night, though it will be less cold further south.

While there are currently three weather warnings in place, the Met Office said it is likely warnings will be issued and amended through the week, with an ongoing chance of ice warnings for some.

There are currently three weather warnings in place this week as heavy rain, snow and ice are all expected to descend upon the country.

Up to 20cm of snow could settle on higher ground as a band of cold air pushes north on Thursday.

There is an “increased signal for wintry hazards” this week, the Met Office said.

Deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said: “While the early part of this week will see some rain, at times heavy, gradually sinking southwards, there’s an increased signal for wintry hazards as we move through the week as cold air from the north moves over the UK.

“It’s from Thursday that the snow risk becomes more potentially impactful, as mild air attempts to move back in from the south, bumping into the cold air and increasing the chance of snow developing on the leading edge.

“While there are still lots of details to work out, the initial snow risk looks highest in northern England and Wales from Thursday.

“1-2cm is possible to low levels, with 10-20cm possible over the highest ground within the warning area. This snow will likely gradually transition to sleet and rain later on from the south.”

Since storm naming was introduced in 2015 the furthest through the list the group has got is to number 11, Storm Katie, which impacted the UK in March 2016.