A weather warning of potential for snow has been issued by the Met Office for Dorset on Sunday.

Forecasters at the Met Office have issued a yellow ‘be aware’ warning for snow in the county for Sunday and Monday.

The alert is valid from 12.15am on Sunday morning until 11.45pm on Monday night.

However, the agency says there is a risk of a more persistent spell of rain, sleet and snow affecting the Southwest, Wales, and the Midlands on Monday.

A yellow alert for ice has also been issued valid from 4pm this evening until 11am on Saturday morning. Dorset County Council will be salting and gritting the roads across the county from 6pm this evening.

The Chief Forecaster said: “A very cold airmass will continue to spread southwards from Scotland and Northern Ireland across the remainder of the UK on Sunday accompanied by strong winds. Frequent showers are likely to form in this airmass, primarily affecting northern parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland but also running along eastern and western coastal districts of England and Wales at times.

“With the cold air snow is likely to accumulate even to low levels wherever showers affect. Periods of enhanced snowfall are possible within this general flow, with parts of Wales, the Midlands and southwest England at greater risk on Monday, but details of these are very uncertain at this time. As such this alert is likely to be updated and refined in the coming days to better represent individual features.

“There is the potential for disruption throughout this period due to the accumulating snow and ice but also with temporary blizzard conditions leading to very difficult driving conditions.”

Temperatures are set to remain colder than average over the next few days. Saturday will be cloudy with a high of 6C forecast but will feel more like 1C during the afternoon.

There will be sunny intervals on Sunday with temperatures feeling no warmer than 0C. Temperatures are set to feel like -5C overnight on Sunday, with it feeling like 0C during the daytime.