The Met Office has issued a weather warning for heavy snow this weekend.

The yellow warning - which covers a huge swathe of the UK, including most of Wales - comes into place at 12pm on Saturday and will run until 9am on Monday.

About 5cm of snow is expected widely across the Midlands, Wales and northern England. The forecaster warns that up to 30cm of snow is possible over higher ground in Wales.

The forecaster said: “Outbreaks of rain spreading northeastwards later on Saturday and overnight into Sunday will likely be preceded by a spell of snow on its northern flank. Whilst there is a fair bit of uncertainty as to how far north this may spread, and how long any snow will last, significant accumulations of snow are possible, especially (but not exclusively) on hills.

“Currently, parts of the Midlands, Wales and northern England are most at risk of disruption, where 5cm or more could accumulate fairly widely, with perhaps as much as 20-30 cm over high ground of Wales and/or the Pennines. This, accompanied by strengthening winds, may lead to drifting of lying snow.”

The forecaster continued: “In addition, as milder air attempts to move northwards into southern and central areas, snow may turn to a spell of freezing rain for a time, adding to the risk of ice. If milder air is able to spread more bodily northwards, any snow in southern parts of the warning area may be relatively short-lived before turning to rain.

“Given the uncertainties, it is quite likely this warning area and start/end times will be refined over the coming days as confidence increases in areas most likely to be impacted.”

The Met office said that wintry weather can make driving hazardous and cause delays, so plan ahead by checking routes, packing essentials, and preparing your car. To handle power cuts or service disruptions, gather items like torches, batteries, and a mobile power pack, and stay updated on changing weather warnings.