Snow maps show UK buried as far south as London and Devon with -8C freeze

Weather maps show snow pushing deep into southern Britain as freezing air grips the country next week. Wintry showers are indicated as far south as London and parts of Devon, with temperatures forecast to plunge as low as -8C in places.

WX Charts projections for the early hours of Thursday, February 19, show bands of wintry showers sweeping south across the UK overnight. The maps indicate the first snow arriving in northern areas before spreading into central England and reaching parts of the south by morning as colder air digs in. A snow depth chart shows the largest accumulations in Scotland, with up to 10cm reported, especially over higher ground. Further sout,h the coverings look smaller but still enough to cause disruption, with parts of northern and central England seeing a light settling and patchier snow appearing across southern counties.

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The charts suggest rain and sleet will quickly turn to snow as colder air moves in, though falls could be brief and highly uneven from place to place.

Frost and ice may be more widespread than snowfall itself, however, with much of the country dropping below freezing by daybreak.

Areas that see overnight showers are most at risk, as leftover moisture can freeze on untreated roads and pavements once temperatures fall.

Scotland looks coldest, with some spots nearing -8C, while many parts of England and Wales sit around or just below 0C.

Rural routes and quieter roads will be most vulnerable, especially where clearer skies allow temperatures to drop further overnight.

The charts come after the Met Office issued a yellow warning with snow showers and icy conditions expected to cause travel disruption in Friday, February 13.

Forecasters say roads and pavements could turn slippery, particularly during the morning commute.

The warning covers the overnight period into Friday morning, with people urged to allow extra time for journeys and take care on untreated surfaces.