© newcastle chronicleAs much as 7inches of snow could fall in some parts of Scotland
The UK is set to be hit by heavy rain and snow that's threatening to cause flooding, power cuts and even an avalanche.
The Met Office has issued weather warnings today and tomorrow for parts of England, Wales and Scotland.
Today the south westerly tip of England looks set to be battered with heavy rain, while the most northerly areas of Scotland are braced for heavy snowfall.
Tomorrow a large stretch of England from Oxford up to Manchester, as well as almost all of Wales, could see roads turned treacherous by snowfall and ice.
The most dramatically impacted areas may see as much as seven inches of snow this weekend.
A yellow weather warning has been in place since 4am today for the majority of Scotland north of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Loch Rannoch in the middle of the country was expected to have the heaviest downfall, with a fair sprinkling also forecast in Finnart, Dalwhinnie, Braemar and Aboyne.
Experts have said that around 7inches of snow could fall in areas of higher ground over an 11-hour period.
While the southern areas of Scotland are only due a light powdering on Saturday morning, people living there are not free from the perils of snow.
© Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team WSCaerketton Hill has been hit by avalanches
In the Pentland Hills Regional Park, south west of Edinburgh, an avalanche rushed down the side of Caerketton yesterday morning.
The park's managers have warned that the risk of more dramatic snow slips remains.
Video: Met Office national afternoon forecast for January 28 - Snow and rain warnings in place for parts of UK (Manchester Evening News)
Met Office national afternoon forecast for January 28 - Snow and rain warnings in place for parts of UK
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"With the thaw setting in there is an increased risk of avalanche across the hills," the wrote on their Facebook page.
The meteorological focus will shift to the other end of the country come this evening, when a yellow rain weather warning will kick in from 8pm to 3pm tomorrow for Cornwall and Devon.
The south west counties are due to be lashed with hours of rain that threaten to cause flooding in low lying areas.
© PASnow will fall in parts of England and Wales tomorrow
A Met Office spokesman said: "A band of heavy rain will push into the southwest through Friday night which may be heavy enough at times to lead to some surface water flooding.
"During this time, 20-30 mm is likely across the area, with as much as 40-50 mm across parts of Dartmoor and along the south coast of Cornwall.
"During Saturday morning, the rain band moves east but is followed by organised bands of some possibly heavy showers into Cornwall and Devon, which may add to rainfall totals."
On Saturday the persistent rain will turn to snow in the South West.
By then the worst of the wintery weather will be concentrated on the Midlands and the Welsh border.
© Met OfficeYellow weather warnings have been issued for parts of England and Wales tomorrow
After hours of rain overnight, slushy snow will begin to fall in areas around Newton and Builth Wells in Wales at around 6am.
By 9pm a band of watery snowclouds unlikely to produce anything that will settle on the ground will stretch from Bala in north Wales across to Telford and down to Banbury.
At the same time Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Swindon should see light, perhaps slightly slushy showers.
As the morning goes on the snowfall is forecast to get heavier, with towns like Bourton-on-the-Water in line for a considerable covering.
The Met Office has warned that there is a low chance of around 20cm of snow building up over the higher parts of the Brecon Beacons.
Further south, Reading, Oxford and Newbury should see some sleet that, in a kind light, may appear snowlike.
By Saturday evening the snow and rain warnings will be firmly in the past, with the noteworthy weather events making way for overcast skies.
The last of the weekend's snow is due to fall on Sunday evening in Newbury, Swindon and Worcester.