Snow Showers Sweep South Amid Gale Warning

There are warnings of strong winds and snow for many parts of the UK in the next couple of days as the winter cold snap bites.

Gusts of up to 80mph are predicted to hit Scotland and northern parts of Ireland and England during Thursday afternoon and evening.

People are being advised to prepare for difficult driving conditions and structural damage.

Then late on Thursday and into Friday, frequent snow showers are predicted, with snow getting down as far as the Midlands.

Up to four inches of the white stuff could be on the cards as temperatures continue to drop.

The Met Office has issued warnings of wind and snow for a large part of the UK.

Skies will then clear on Friday night, bringing the risk of black ice on Saturday.

The south will miss the bad weather. It will be mild with some rain on Thursday, turning colder but brighter on Friday.

For today, the Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for Scotland, with the heaviest snow forecast in the north and north west regions.

Orkney and Shetland will also face gale force winds which will become severe.

Sky weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "We're watching for a wild and windy spell of weather to affect northern Britain and Ireland on Thursday, especially during the afternoon and evening.

"There could be gusts of winds up to 80mph causing some damage and disruption to travel.

"It'll turn much, much colder through Thursday night and Friday with frequent snow showers - snow even getting down as far as the Midlands.

"As skies clear on Friday night the next concern will be ice."