Snow: Exact date when Britain faces up to 18 inches as whole of UK hit by wintry weather

Up to 18 inches of is for most of the UK later this month.

Maps show the wintry is expected on around Saturday November 23, and will be particularly heavy across . Greater , though, could see 3cm of snow on the same day.

Temperatures have plunged in the last couple of days - to as low as 0.3C in Katesbridge, County Down, on Monday. It was also particularly cold - to just above freezing - in Sennybridge, Powys.

And the new weather maps indicate temperatures will largely remain cold for the rest of the month, culminating in the snow in around two weeks' time. The has also raised the possibility of "wintry" showers.

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In its latest long-range forecast, which covers November 16 to 25, the agency states that rain and showers will come to most regions and turn "wintry". But it has said the chances of any "widespread or disruptive" snowfall are low.

Nevertheless, the maps jar with this as they show significant snowfall expected across Scottish Highlands, and dustings as far south as the Home Counties and the edge of Greater London for Saturday November 23.

Temperatures will continue to fall in the coming days, say forecasters. Just 8C is likely on Wednesday and Thursday will be colder still, with lows of around 6C expected in and around Glasgow and across Dumfries and Galloway.

In relation to the end of the month, the Met Office says: "Some wintry precipitation is possible in places, with snow most likely to fall over high ground in the north. The chance of any widespread or disruptive snowfall is very low. Often windy, with a chance of gales at times, especially in the north and east. Temperatures probably near or below average with overnight patchy frost and ice."

The maps have been produced and issued by meteorologists at WX Charts, who accurately foresaw the last significant wintry weather most of the UK experienced - . On that occasion, northern England bore the brunt of the Arctic conditions.