Snow forecast - live: Met Office warns of 5cm of UK snow as blizzards hit Europe

The Met Office has said that snow is set to fall in the UK this week as strong blizzards have swept across eastern Europe, causing power cuts and closing schools.

Snow showers are expected in Scotland and the north-east of England from Wednesday and then spread to the south-east of the UK by the end of the week.

Temperatures could dip as low as -8C in the sheltered hills in Scotland and the rest of the country will see frosty weather from Tuesday.

Oli Claydon, a spokesman for the forecaster, said “We could see some snow moving into southeastern parts of the UK towards the end of the week, including Hampshire, however, it may also remain dry.”

It comes as eastern Europe has been hit with strong blizzards and severe snowfall that has already led to the deaths of three people.

At least three people died as heavy snowfall and strong blizzards lashed eastern European countries over the weekend, forcing the closure of national roads.

Hundreds of towns and villages were left without electricity on Sunday as the first major cold snap of the season spread across Romania and Moldova, prompting an emergency declaration in Bulgaria.

A 40-year-old man in Moldova died on Sunday after the vehicle he was in skidded off the road and crashed into a tree, authorities said. Six road accidents related to the weather were reported by about midday.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has the latest on the snowfall in Europe

Three dead as first heavy snowfall and blizzards of winter hit eastern Europe Yellow warning for extremely low temperature issued for Bulgarian capital

Joe Middleton

Hello and welcome to our blog covering the predicted snowfall in the UK later this week and blizzards that have struck eastern Europe.

Joe Middleton