Severe cold weather, icy conditions and heavy snow could all hit next week - prompting the Met Office to issue a weather alert.

A cold weather warning for the whole of England is in place from Monday morning, March 6, until Wednesday night because forecasters expect conditions to drastically change.

While February has been named the driest since 1993, according to provisional figures, and among one of the mildest, it looks like winter isn't over for England just yet

High pressure, say forecasters, is expected to become displaced towards Greenland from early next week with a cold north to north-easterly airflow becoming established across the whole of the UK that will cause a significant drop in temperatures.

This will bring with it the potential for frequent snow showers, says the Met Office, or prolonged spells of snow in some places.

Weather systems in the Atlantic, it adds, may then push more bad weather into the south and southwest possibly from mid-week, which may bring the threat of more disruptive snow.

Forecasters have been watching weather models closely since it emerged that a weather system known as a Sudden Stratospheric Warming - which brought England the Beast from the East in 2018 - had occurred again at the end of February triggering the possibility for more winter storms in the following fortnight.

Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Chris Almond, said: "Although we’ve moved into meteorological spring there will be a distinctly wintry feel to our weather next week. Very cold air will spread across the UK bringing snow showers even to sea level in the north on Monday and these snow showers could spread further south on Tuesday.

"With freezing overnight temperatures and the risk of ice it is likely weather warnings will be issued for Monday and Tuesday once the detail of potential impacts becomes clearer, so keep an eye on the Met Office forecast."

With below average temperatures expected, along with the likelihood of widespread frosts and icy conditions, the UK Health Security Agency is reminding households to remain in touch with more vulnerable family and neighbours.

Nationally, there are thousands of excess winter deaths every year caused by the cold and these Cold Weather Alerts, issued jointly by the Met Office and UKHSA trigger actions across the NHS, public health, social care and other community organisations, to support vulnerable people with health issues that can be made worse in wintry weather.

Kent County Council director of Public Health, Dr Anjan Ghosh, said: "Cold weather can affect any of us. But the elderly and frail, and people with underlying health problems, are at greater risk of its potential impacts, which range from heart attacks and flu to falls, injuries and hypothermia.

"That is why it is vital that during this spell of low temperatures, and icy and frosty conditions, people keep themselves and their homes warm – even if this is just by heating the bedroom and living room.

"We also urge residents to look after vulnerable family and neighbours, and to assist their local community. Taking steps to stay warm and work with others can make a life-changing difference."