Met Office changes UK snow forecast and says when and where it will fall in new update

January is truly set to arrive this weekend as temperatures plummet and the Met Office predicts snow for large parts of the country over Saturday and Sunday.

It all comes after the north of England experienced torrential rain, resulting in devastating flooding across Greater Manchester, and a major incident was declared.

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice covers most of England. It comes into effect at 12 pm on Saturday, January 4, and remains in place until 11.59pm on Sunday, January 5. It had been in place until 9am on Monday but was changed by the Met Office and brought forward nine hours.

The warning reads: "Heavy snow, and some freezing rain in places, may cause some disruption over the weekend." Large parts of the country, including Greater Manchester, London, Wales, the Midlands, Newcastle, and others, are forecast to be hit by snow.

It adds: "Outbreaks of rain spreading progressively northeastwards later on Saturday and overnight into Sunday will likely be preceded by a spell of snow on its northern flank. Whilst there is some uncertainty, any snow in southern and eastern parts of England, especially at low levels, will probably be rather transient before turning back to rain.

"However, some significant accumulations of snow are possible across parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England in particular, at least for a time, where 5 cm or more could accumulate fairly widely, with perhaps as much as 20-30 cm over high ground of mid and north Wales and potentially 30-40 cm over parts of the Pennines. This, accompanied by strengthening winds, may lead to drifting of lying snow.

"In addition, as milder air moves northwards, snow may turn to a spell of freezing rain for a time, again more especially across