A TOWN in Dorset was reportedly the warmest in the UK on Friday night, March 10, as the county continued to avoid wintry conditions that have hit elsewhere.

Swanage was officially the warmest town in the UK overnight, hitting five degrees, as other areas in the UK saw temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees.

Weather warnings remain in place across the country, but Dorset has largely missed out on the freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall that has hit in some areas.

Some places in Dorset received some snowfall earlier in the week, including Shaftesbury.

However, none settled in the county’s coastal towns, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Bournemouth-based forecaster, Bournemouth and Poole Weather, provided an explanation to the Daily Echo as to why the area missed out on snow.

“As we know parts of Dorset are some least snowiest places in the country and on many occasions falls of snow are marginal at best as this was," he said.

“Snow can fall in temperatures of +5 or +6C however the dew point needs to be below 0C.

"On this occasion, temperatures were conducive for snow but the dew points only briefly dip to 0C in our area and given surface temperatures were above zero any settling of any snow that did fall was not possible.

“Now head a few miles inland and it’s an increasingly different story. The air is slightly drier and colder and there is more elevation which is why parts away from the coastal areas saw some snow.

“Looking ahead we’ll likely see some briefly colder spells but really, I think any snow would be unlikely so we’ll likely have to wait until next winter now.”

Looking ahead, temperatures are set to increase and become more mild into this coming week.