A huge stretch of the UK spanning from northern Scotland down to Exeter in the south west will be hit with a on January 1, according to new .

Forecasts from WXCharts show a torrent of snow falling across from around 12pm on New Year's Day, with depths of up to 29cm accumulating in northern regions around Inverness and the Highlands.

in white, with a barrage of snow extending through the Midlands all the way down to Manchester, before moving along the Welsh coast.

Parts of Wales including Cardiff are also likely to see snow on January 1, with between 1cm and 2cm expected to fall as far south as Exeter in Devon.

And southern regions around London will also be coated in a short-lived snowstorm at around 6pm on January 1, according to WXCharts, with depths reaching 2cm by midnight before being washed away in rain the following morning.

A last minute winter wonderland could also be on the cards for Ireland, with WXCharts forecasting a snowy New Year's Day for areas around Cork and along the south coast.

Partygoers planning to ring in 2025 in style might need to wrap up warm when heading out on December 31 - as the snowstorm is set to be accompanied by a dramatic drop in the mercury.

While northern regions in Scotland will bear the initial brunt of the freezing temperatures - with lows of bone-chilling -8C at around 6am on January 1 - the rest of the country will catch up on New Year's Day, with parts of the Midlands including Newcastle expected to record temperatures of around -5C.

The chill will reach its peak at around midnight on January 2, where Scotland's northwest coast is forecast to drop to -10C, with most of the rest of the country hovering around 0C.

Northeastern areas could see lows of -4C at around the same time, while southern regions including London and Southampton are expected to stay around the freezing point.

The Met Office's long-range forecast for the start of next year acknowledges the risk of "sleet and snow", especially in northern areas. It also warns of low-pressure fronts moving eastwards across the country and bringing "an increased threat of heavy rain and strong winds".

Today:

A rainy Boxing Day for central and southern Scotland, with mostly dry but cloudy skies above southern areas. Bright and chilly spells in northern Scotland.

Tonight:

Cloudy across the UK with outbreaks of rain in Scotland and clearer spells in the north. Temperatures milder than seasonal average.

Friday:

Cloudy day with mild temperatures and patchy rain in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Cooler in the far northwest with bright sunny spells.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Rain expected in northwestern regions, clearing towards the southeast on Saturday. Some hill snow in the north on Sunday and Monday, with colder temperatures across the UK and blustery showers.