After what feels like weeks of wet, warm, not at all wintry weather, temperatures are expected to drop to more seasonal levels this weekend.

The Met Office is forecasting highs of just 6C for Saturday and Sunday, with lows of -1C in northern parts of the county.

But "feels like" temperatures will be -2C on Saturday across the whole of the county.

Bournemouth, Ferndown and Wimborne will be the coldest in our area at 0C on Saturday evening, (feels like -1C) while Poole, Swanage and Wareham will be a relatively balmy 2C but with feels like temperatures of -1C.

But don't get too excited. The temperatures are set to rise again on Monday to around 8C and there's no sign of a prolonged temperature drop this side of Christmas.

A severe weather warning for snow has been issued for large parts of the country, which reads: "A major (but temporary) change of weather type will see the winds swing into a more northerly direction, pulling down much colder air across the whole of Britain and western Europe, after what has been an exceptionally mild first half of November.

"Wintry showers will spread to many northern areas in particular and night frosts will become much more widespread.

"A swathe of gale force north to northwesterly winds, accompanied by a band of rain and snow, will move south across much of central and southern Britain on Friday night and Saturday. Wind gusts of 50-60 mph are likely, with a lower likelihood of 60-70 mph gusts, perhaps most likely in exposed parts of east coastal England.

"In any one area, the strongest winds will last for only a few hours, clearing last from southeastern areas of England. Additionally, some of the snow may settle, this more likely over some of the high ground, for example in north Wales, but there is a possibility of temporary settling snow even at low levels.

"The worst affected areas may see a few cm but on current evidence, most places will see little if any lying snow. On Saturday morning, ice will be an additional hazard, particularly for higher level routes."

But the warning does not cover the South West, which looks set to escape any snow.