Snow and 75mph winds to hit the North as the South sees warm weather

More snow and ice is expected in the North of Britain today, along with strong winds that are expected to hit.

Weather forecasters at The Met Office told The Independent: "The Orkney and Shetland islands may see gusts reaching up to 75mph in exposed places."

Forecaster Leon Brown at The Weather Channel says: "Keep some de-icer handy if planning a journey late Saturday and on Sunday. Temperatures will be as low as -6C in Scotland and -5C over North Wales and North England and North Midlands. Where mist and fog persists over East Wales and the Midlands on Sunday temperatures may only just lift above zero during the day, and everywhere will be quite cold on Sunday with temperatures 2 to 6C."

While the North of England and Scotland sees strong winds and snow, the South is expected to enjoy warm temperatures this weekend.

Met Office forecaster Alister McHardy told the Daily Mail: "Devon, Cornwall and Hampshire can expect to see very mild conditions for the time of year."

For next week, Leon Brown says it will be "mild over the west by Monday, with temperatures up to 11C in Southwest England and 6 to 7C in Eastern England. No frost and ice problems are expected for the start back to work on Monday.

"A very deep Atlantic depression will pass just south of Iceland by the middle of next week. There will be gales over the north on Wednesday and some heavy rain too. The rain is expected to move southwards late Wednesday to Thursday, heaviest over West Wales and West England and lighter in the East. Temperatures will be mild though at 9 to 11C."

Mr Brown adds that next Friday will be a much colder and clearer day, with hill snow showers over the North and clear skies over the South.