The UK snow blast could prove more severe than initially anticipated, with flurries now expected to be "widespread".

Netweather's outlook for October 27 to November 4 suggests the Scottish Highlands may experience "widespread snow" during that period.

The forecasters stated: "Because temperatures are unlikely to vary far from average, there will probably not be widespread snowfall except perhaps over the Scottish Highlands."

The meteorologist explained: "This period is expected to turn unsettled and dominated by low pressure, probably with mainly westerly winds, and temperatures likely near average in the north and above average in the south-east.

"Depressions are likely to track further south than average, which means that it may be wettest relative to normal in the south, with nearer average rainfall for north-western Britain.", reports Birmingham Live.

They continued: "There is uncertainty over how wet it will be, but a likelihood of it being generally unsettled.

"Sunshine totals often end up above normal in eastern Scotland and north-east England in this type of setup, but below normal in south-western Britain."

The BBC Weather team predicts that the latter half of October should frequently see high pressure over or near the UK, encouraging settled weather patterns with drier than usual conditions, though occasional fog and frost may occur.

Nevertheless, a damper spell is anticipated to emerge in late October, before high pressure returns intermittently during early November. The Met Office anticipates a shift in weather from Monday 20 October to Sunday 27 October, stating: "An abrupt change looks like occurring in the third week of October, with a change from the blocked, high-pressure-dominated conditions to a more active flow from the Atlantic. So we are likely to see two faces of October's climate.

"High pressure is expected to drift away eastwards, which should open the door to a parade of Atlantic depressions and frontal systems.

"These will bring bouts of rain for a few days, some heavy and accompanied by occasionally strong winds. There is a lot of uncertainty, however, and there are suggestions that high pressure and drier weather could hang around for longer.

"Later in the week there could be another change, with high pressure building across the eastern Atlantic or maybe drifting across the UK again.

"That could introduce a couple of chillier days, with chances of overnight frost increasing again but temperatures should not depart too far from the average."

October 'abrupt change' in UK weather sees snow 'open the door' to heavy rain - Nottinghamshire Live