Parts of Britain could get up to six inches of snow on Tuesday night as temperatures drop below freezing. The Met Office issued a severe weather warning as temperatures fell to -5C (23F) in England on Monday night.

It said snow was expected in the Midlands, the north and Scotland and that there was a risk of gales of up to 50mph developing in the south-west on Wednesday before moving along the Channel.

Frosty conditions are expected to continue until rush hour on Wednesday morning as a band of wintry weather moves slowly eastwards.

The Met Office forecaster Emma Sillitoe said: “We have had a few wintry showers, but this is the first event where more people are going to be affected. There is a frontal system moving in from the west meeting the quite cold weather we have been having over the last few days.

“A yellow weather warning will be in place from 12pm today until 9am tomorrow covering high ground from Scotland down the east coast to the Midlands, and we could see snow to lower levels below 200 metres of around 2cm (0.7in).”

Sillitoe also warned of a risk of difficult driving conditions on high routes over the Pennines and in Scotland. “People will have to scrape the frost from their windscreens, so it will be quite slow getting out and about on Wednesday,” she added.

Highways England issued an amber “be aware” alert for the north and Midlands in anticipation of the heavy rain turning to sleet and snow. They warned drivers to check the forecast before setting out and ensure they have a winter kit in their vehicles.

The wintry weather is expected to affect the M6 and A66 in the northwest, and the A66, M62 and A628 in the Pennines.

The AA said it had experienced its busiest day of the year so far with more than 10,000 calls. Many drivers had flat batteries and other cold weather-related problems.