Heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures are forecast for Lancashire this week, as two weather warnings have been issued covering three days.

The Met Office says parts of Lancashire could experience its first heavy snow and ice of the winter on Tuesday, with further warnings for snow on Wednesday and Thursday.

The first snow and ice warning is in place all day on Tuesday, January 16, with possible delays on the roads and motorists being left stranded, potential impacts to rail and air travel, potential power cuts, and a risk of injury due to slips and falls.

The warning covers Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington, Burnley, Nelson, Colne and the rest of Lancashire.

From 6am to 12pm heavy snow is forecast in Blackburn, with light snow set to fall throughout Wednesday night and Thursday.

The Met Office said: "Snow showers will continue to feed inland early on Tuesday morning across northern and western Scotland, parts of Wales and northwest England where two to five centimetres of snow is possible over a few hours in some places.

"During the day, an area of more organised rain, sleet and snow is likely to move east with further showers following.

"There is still some uncertainty in the track of more prolonged snow, and it is possible that at lower elevations across Wales and northern England, this could turn to rain for a time.

"However, there is a chance some places could see five to 10cm, perhaps 20cm of snow, particularly across the northern half of Scotland and over higher ground elsewhere."

The second snow warning covers all of Wednesday and Thursday, and also covers the whole of Lancashire.

It reads: "The heaviest and most frequent snow showers will be across northern Scotland during Wednesday morning, before developing across parts of southwest Scotland, Northern Ireland, northwest England and Wales later in the day.

"Snow showers are likely to continue during Wednesday night and well into Thursday.

"Whilst accumulations will vary due to the nature of showers, two to five cm of snow is expected in many places.

"Where showers become more organised, there is a chance some low-lying areas could see 10cm in a few hours. Across northern Scotland over 20 cm of snow could build up in a few locations."

Much of Britain will be affected by wintry weather bringing potential disruption, forecasters said.

The forecast for the North West says it will be dry and mostly sunny on Monday, though an isolated snow or hail flurry is possible. It will be feeling very cold, 'especially in the brisk northerly breeze'. 

After a cold Monday the weather turns unsettled for the rest of the week with periods of rain, sleet and snow on Tuesday, with the potential for travel disruption in places. 

Further snow showers, perhaps merging into a longer spell of snow, are likely to cause further disruption on Tuesday.

It will be staying cold with frost and ice.

Deputy chief meteorologist David Hayter said a northerly airflow bringing arctic air to the UK is to  blame

He said: “What we’re keeping an eye on for this disruptive snow is where exactly this milder air from the southwest bumps into the cold air that will be in place over the UK.

“It’s where these airmasses meet that there’s a likelihood of some substantial snow for some places.

“At the moment, models are showing us a variety of options for exactly when and how this situation plays out and it’s something we’ll be able to add more details to in the coming days.”

Lancashire Telegraph: This was the forecast for Wednesday

The weather warning says, people can expect possible travel delays on roads stranding some vehicles and passengers. Power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage.

There may also be possible delays or cancellations to rail and air travel.