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Temperatures in Devon are set to take a sharp turn for the worse as gale-fore winds blow in this weekend, and parts of the county are forecast to see snow.

Rain is forecast for much of the county on Thursday, becoming heavy on Friday before more wintry weather blasts in at the weekend.

It will be cold across the county by Saturday with temperatures dropping to 2C and windchill making it feel as cold as -7C in places - including the highest parts of Dartmoor and Exmoor

While winds gust at 40mph to 50mph across much of the county, Princetown is forecast to see light snow at 6am on Sunday - according to the Met Office.

Exmoor will see snow from 6pm on Sunday turning to sleet later in the night. More snow is forecast for Monday and Tuesday.

Plymouth is set to stay warmer at up to 8C while Exeter will see winds gusting at up to 57mph by the middle of Sunday.

South Devon will be bright but cold at the weekend with winds again gusting between 50mph and 60mph on Sunday.

North Devon looks set to get some of the strongest winds on Sunday with temperatures as low as 1C.

The miserable mix of sleet, rain and strong winds will cover much of the country as two deep areas of low pressure track across the UK. Winds will increase and gales could buffet parts of the southwest and it will feel quite raw in the bitter wind chill.

Much more hill snow is possible for Scotland, where 15 to 20 cm can be expected in the Highlands. A spokesperson for The Weather Channel said: “The main wind impact of the passage of these areas of low pressure is expected overnight Saturday into Sunday for the British Isles and along the North Sea Coast.

“On Saturday afternoon, maximum wind gusts over the British Isles will be 45 to 55mph with sustained winds 20 to 25mph. On Sunday morning, wind gusts over the British Isles will decrease closer to 25 to 35mph with sustained speeds of 15 to 20mph.”

There will be a colder feel to Sunday and could be quite stormy as a low pressure cell rapidly deepens whilst passing over the British Isles. There is a risk of widespread rain, with snow over the Scottish Highlands and Pennines. Gales are possible in the southwest of England.

Maximum temperatures ranging from 5 to 7C in the north and 8 to 10C in the south, but feeling colder with a significant wind chill.