Snow and ice in Bath: the latest weather forecast

Snow and ice is likely to be replaced by heavy rain in the South West later this week, as the big freeze finally begins to thaw.

Snow caused travel chaos in Bath - many motorists had to abandon their cars, and bus passengers were forced to walk miles after buses became stuck on icy roads.

But today a sunny afternoon is on the cards, with temperatures set to reach highs of 1C. It is also likely to be a clear night.

A yellow weather warning of ice remains in place until midday today.

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But while the thaw will most likely be welcomed, a combination of rain and snow melt could lead to localised minor surface water and river flooding.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning of rain on both Friday and Sunday.

The public should be braced for localised flooding of low lying fields, recreational land and car parks, as well as a small number of homes and businesses.

The Met Office also warns of wet road surfaces, local travel disruption and longer journey times. Motorists are urged to drive according to the conditions encountered.

The yellow warning of rain is in place in Bath from 3am until midnight on Friday, with heavy rain forecast from around 6pm until the early hours of Saturday.

Light rain is set to fall from around 9am until mid-afternoon, and again at around 9pm. Temperatures could reach highs of 7C on Saturday.

Heavy downpours are expected from around midnight, and the next yellow warning of rain comes into force at 3am on Sunday. Bath is set to see showers throughout the afternoon, and the yellow warning remains in place until midnight.

Again, temperatures could reach highs of 7C or 8C.

Monday is set to be sunny at times, with temperatures varying between 4C and 8C. Light showers are forecast from around 3pm.

UPDATE 11.40AM:

BBC Points West weatherman Ian Fergusson has underlined the flood risk posed to the South West over the coming days.

On social networking site Twitter, the weatherman said: "Lying snow over uplands probably still mostly in-situ by Sat AM but Sunday's thaw & 20+mm rain means local flooding is possible...".

He later added: "Current prognosis into nxt 10 days continues with broadly less cold & often unsettled weather. Frost becoming more likely later".

UPDATE 1.20PM:

Bath could face a windy Monday, with gusts of up to 38mph forecast.

UPDATE 2PM:

A yellow weather warning of snow has been issued for Bath tomorrow.

The warning, which urges the public to "be aware" of snow lying on roads and pavements, has been issued between 9am tomorrow and 6am on Sunday.

The warning has been issued alongside a yellow warning of rain already in place. The rain warning comes into effect between 3pm and midnight tomorrow.

Temperatures are set to climb in Bath tomorrow, reaching highs of 5C. But the Met Office warns it could feel much colder - as low as -4C.