Heavy snowfall is expected in parts of the UK, with south-east England expected to be worst affected.The Met Office has issued an early warning and said travel networks may be affected by snow on Friday.
Up to 20cm of snow could fall in some parts of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London and East Anglia, with gale-force winds causing drifts, forecasters say.
Snow is also forecast in parts of central and northern England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Snow showers are expected to start on the east coast on Thursday afternoon, with bands of snow then spreading across south-east England, East Anglia and the London area, where forecasters say 10cm of snow could fall by midnight.
John Hammond, of the BBC Weather Centre, said conditions would worsen through the early hours of Friday, with gale-force winds causing snow to drift, and some places seeing as much as 20cm of snow.
Conditions are expected to be at their worst during the Friday morning rush hour.
BBC weather forecaster Philip Avery said the amount of snow forecast is similar to the amount that fell in 2003, trapping thousands of drivers on the M11 and M25.
He said: "This is going to affect the M25, M26 and M11 in places. The Highways Agency, given the early warning, should be on the case... but it's the first dump of the season and we seem to struggle on these occasions."
Conditions in the South East are expected to ease during Friday, with more cold and icy weather predicted for Saturday and Sunday.
Further snow is predicted over the weekend, particularly across the north of the UK.
However the Met Office said it was too early to say whether there would be a white Christmas.
A Met Office spokesman said: "Current indications show an ongoing battle between the colder air currently over the UK and milder air pushing in from the west. As a result the forecast for Christmas Day is still too close to call."
The Highways Agency said it had 94 winter maintenance compounds across England, with 25 in the South East, and was able to salt treat all roads within three hours of severe forecasts.
A spokesman told the BBC: "The snowfall in February was the worst the UK has seen for at least 18 years and was a tough test of our winter preparations.
"The Highways Agency was well prepared for the severe weather and working with central government, was able to help a number of local highway authorities experiencing difficulties with shortfalls in their salt levels."
But earlier this week, the AA motoring organisation said half of the UK's local authorities only had enough road salt for six days of continuous freezing.
It said councils had 250,000 tonnes less salt than a decade ago - a claim dismissed as "scaremongering" by the Local Government Association.
The Highways Agency has advised drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before setting out, to carry a severe weather emergency kit in their vehicles, and to monitor the traffic and weather conditions.
Forecasters have already warned of very cold weather this week, with temperatures falling as low as minus four.
The Department of Health has urged older people, families with young children and people with disabilities or long-term health conditions to take extra precautions to keep warm and well during the cold weather.
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:17 pm
