UK weather: Major snow storm set to hit parts of UK with Arctic blast looming, Met Office forecast

According to its long-range forecast for December 1 to 10, it said: "A cold and frosty start is expected on Tuesday, with some patchy freezing fog in places, which may be slow to clear.

“Cloud will increase from the west, then later rain for western parts. This may fall as snow at first across Scotland and the Highlands." While rain and breezy conditions are expected for most of the UK, snow remains a possibility in northern areas, particularly on higher ground.

While the Met Office did not specify which areas are likely to be affected by snow, weather maps from WX Charts indicate that parts of the UK could experience up to 60 hours of snowfall.

The snow is expected to begin in western Scotland around midday on December 9 and spread to Northern Ireland, mid Wales, Cumbria, and Lancashire by midnight on December 10, potentially causing disruptions in northern and western region By midnight on December 11, snow is expected to retreat, primarily affecting western Scotland before clearing across the UK by 6am on December 11.

Netweather's December also has similar forecast, saying: "This means that there could be snow for some, particularly on high ground and in the north. Overall, the weather during this period is expected to be more unsettled, but not particularly wet, with high pressure often quite close to the south and/or west of the British Isles."

As westerly winds dominate and the possibility of a mid-Atlantic ridge forms, conditions in northern Britain may grow colder with an increased chance of snow, especially in exposed regions.