Almost the entirety of the UK could see snowfall on a single day in the coming weeks, with some areas expected to receive more than others. Forecaster WXCharts is expecting wintry weather to hit the UK on January 4, bringing snow and low temperatures.

The snow will sweep down from the north, bringing arctic weather to the UK. It will cover all of the UK bar parts of south England (Bristol to Southampton, London to Thanet), west Scotland (Oban, Glencoe), and south Northern Ireland (Enniskilllen, Newry). The snow will be falling the heaviest in Wick (21cm), the Cairngorms, Inverness, and Aberdeen (24cm), Hull, Sheffield, and Leeds (25cm), and Wrexham and Conwy (22cm). It will be coldest in the Cairngorms at -12C, the rest of Scotland forecast to sit between -6C and -11C.

The north of England and Northern Ireland will be between -2C and -7C. The Midlands and Wales will be between 0C and -3C and the south of England will be between 0C and 2C.

Separately, the Met Office said that during this period high pressure will be close to the UK, most likely centred to the west. While this may allow relatively settled and dry conditions with a risk of frost and fog initially, there will be the chance of some occasional wet weather at times, perhaps more especially in the north and east.

The forecaster said that given some relatively cold air close to the UK, this may bring the chance of some wintry hazards in places. It's important to remember that weather models can change and the outlook will become more certain closer to the day. The Met Office is clear that forecasting snow in the UK is "complex" as conditions can change quickly. The forecaster has said previously that small variations in temperature or wind direction can make the difference between rain, sleet or snow. 

Today: A grey, rather gloomy day with widespread cloud low enough to give mist and hill fog widely across higher ground. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle spread northwest, heavier and more persistent in the southwest. Feeling mild for many.

Tonight: Remaining damp and murky for many with further outbreaks of rain and patchy mist and hill fog. Becoming drier from the southeast by dawn. Mild away from remote rural spots.

Monday: Another cloudy day for many with widely low cloud and further outbreaks of rain, these heavy in places. Drier in the south with some bright spells developing by the afternoon.

Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday: Remaining mostly cloudy through the next few days, though mainly settled under the influence of high pressure. A few spots of rain at times. Becoming colder come Christmas Day.