Winter returns with 'mini Beast From The East'

16 March 2018, 16:24 | Updated: 16 March 2018, 16:25

Yellow warnings for snow and ice have been issued by the Met Office ahead of a cold snap dubbed the "mini beast from the east".

Up to 10cm (4in) of snow could fall in some parts of the UK this weekend where higher 'Amber' warnings have been issued.

Central Scotland is currently just covered at a Yellow level.

Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said: "The best way to describe this is as a real return to wintry conditions.

"The last couple of days have been quite mild across parts of the UK - we got to around 16C yesterday in Wales - but by tomorrow all of us will be back to very cold weather.

"'Bitterly cold' is the best way to describe it - temperatures on the face of it probably just around freezing, but with wind it's going to feel well below freezing."

An amber warning for snow and ice has been issued for the Midlands, Yorkshire, London and the north-west, south-east, and east of England between 4pm Saturday and 9am Sunday.

The cold weather should only last a few days though - by Tuesday, temperatures will be getting back to average for the time of year.

Meteorologist Martin Bowles said the weekend's weather could be dubbed a "mini beast from the east".

He said: "We don't expect anything like the same impact as a result of it, although there will be some snow about."

The Met Office warnings for snow and ice begin at 6pm on Friday for eastern Scotland and England, and run into all of Saturday, where almost the entire country is included.

Sunday will be a similar story, with snow and ice expected across the UK.

The warnings state that travel disruption is possible, rural communities could become cut off, vehicles may be stranded and power cuts may occur.