The Met Office has officially named the next major storm barrelling towards the UK.
Storm Bert is forecast to bring heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the country through the coming weekend. Forecasters said the second named storm of the season could cause gusts of up to 70mph in some areas.
Heavy snowfall could bring further disruption to parts of the country while heavy rain is also likely, especially in western parts. It comes after the Met Office issued a fresh yellow weather warning for Brits with a huge 530-mile snow alert.
The UK is currently enduring a bitterly cold spell following a mild start to November due to polar air moving southwards and it is going to carry on into the weekend. Sub-zero temperatures have been seen in much of the UK this week, reaching as low as -11.2°C at Braemar in Aberdeenshire while there has also been plenty of snowfall with flurries 12cm deep reported at Watnall, Nottinghamshire.
And there are yellow warnings from the Met Office for further snow and wintry conditions until Sunday. A new weather warning has been put in place today for snow and ice and so there are now alerts which cover nearly the full length of the country.
The alert runs from 12pm today until 10am on Saturday and it highlights difficult travel conditions. "Wintry showers and icy patches are expected this evening and overnight, perhaps leading to some travel disruption," states the Met Office. It adds that people should expect longer journey times and there could be ice on untreated roads while there may well be injuries from slips and falls.
A forecast from national agency for today reads: "Wintry showers are expected to gradually move south this afternoon, then feeding inland from Irish Sea and North Sea coasts at times this evening and overnight, especially through the Cheshire Gap to affect parts of the Midlands and north Wales.
"Where these occur 2-5cm of fresh snow is possible, with this most likely on ground above 100m. Icy stretches are expected to form on untreated surfaces during Thursday evening and overnight into Friday morning as temperatures drop below freezing, especially following any showers."
Next week, more unsettled weather is expected - and strong winds will continue hitting the country. The Met Office's long-range forecast from Monday, November 25 to Wednesday, December 4 says: "An unsettled start, with strong winds and some showers for many parts, these most frequent in the north.
"Temperatures easing back towards average for most places, but still mild in the southeast. The strong winds will make it feel rather cold though. It then looks like turning colder for all parts, with a return of wintry showers for a time, especially in the north.
"Conditions then look like settling down as high pressure briefly builds across the country, this bringing a risk of some stubborn fog patches as winds ease. It may turn unsettled and milder again later next week. Into December, high pressure may re-assert itself, with temperatures generally close to average, but some overnight frost is likely, and rather cold by day where any fog persists."
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
A frosty and perhaps icy start for most on Thursday with sunshine and wintry showers in areas exposed to the northwesterly wind. Cloudier in the southwest with outbreaks of rain and hill snow moving through. Rather breezy.
Tonight:
Wintry and blustery showers continue in the north of the UK, but drier with clear skies further south, and a widespread frost developing away from any coasts.
Friday:
Another frosty and in places icy start on Friday with sunshine and wintry showers continuing in exposed areas. Showers and winds gradually easing through the afternoon.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Turning wet and windy for all on Saturday, with some hill snow initially, and blustery showers on Sunday and Monday. Milder on Saturday and Sunday but cooler again into Monday.