UK weather: Snow warnings as 'beast from the East' grips Britain and 'postpones' spring

Snow warnings have been issued for London and the south east as freezing air from Russia grips Britain in what is set to be the coldest late February in five years.

The cold blast - dubbed the "beast from the East" - will see temperatures plunge widely below zero from Sunday night, with lows of minus 8C (17.6F) expected for large parts of the UK.

A Met Office forecaster said spring has been "postponed for a couple of weeks" due to the chill arriving from the east just before March 1, which is the first day of the meteorological spring.

Martin Bowles, a Met Office meteorologist, said the mercury will drop to as low as minus 5C (23F) in London on Sunday night, while snow is likely in the capital from late on Monday and into Tuesday.

Mr Bowles said: "Somewhere like the Scottish mountains might go lower than that, but that's actually quite normal in the Scottish mountains, whereas it's definitely not normal to have minus 5C in London at the end of February.

"We haven't had temperatures that low in late February since 2013. It's not unheard of. There are records that are lower than that."

Mr Bowles added: "But it is quite unusual, particularly as it's quite late in the season.

"We refer to March 1 as being the first day of spring and of course March 1 will be right in the middle of this cold spell, so spring will be postponed for a couple of weeks, shall we say."

During the day on Monday, temperatures of 1C (33.8F) and 2C (35.6F) are expected across much of the country, while Northern Ireland will escape the worst of the cold due to its western position.

Snow is expected mostly in eastern areas, with snow set to accumulate in some parts.

Video: Weekend weather forecast

Met Office weather warnings for snow

East Midlands, East of England, London & South East England, West Midlands

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow for the above areas that is due to be in force from 4pm on Monday to 11.55pm on Tuesday.

It said: "Snow showers may become persistent from late Monday afternoon, continuing overnight and throughout Tuesday.

"There is the potential for travel delays on roads, stranding some vehicles and passengers, as well as delays or cancellations to rail and air travel. Some rural communities could become cut off.

"Power cuts may also occur and other services, such as mobile phones, may be affected."

Central, Tayside & Fife, East Midlands, Grampian, Highlands, North East England, North West England, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Strathclyde, Yorkshire and Humber

Another yellow weather warning for snow has been issued for the above areas that is due to be in force between 3am and 11.55pm on Tuesday.

It said: "Showers or longer periods of snow will affect eastern parts of the UK during Tuesday. There is the potential for travel delays on roads, with some stranded vehicles and passengers, as well as delays or cancellations to rail and air travel.

"Some rural communities could become cut off. Power cuts may also occur and other services, such as mobile phones, may be affected."