Snowstorms are sete to return to various parts of the UK tonight, following days of icy conditions and subzero temperatures, with several regions already grappling with heavy snowfall.

While it may sound a bit over the top for the UK, both the Met Office and energy supplier British Gas have provided advice on how to prepare for snow storms, offering recommendations on what to do and how to ensure you have the necessary items at home to cope if the snow does fall heavily.

The Met Office has predicted snow and ice for various parts of the UK today, following three days of yellow and amber weather warnings for snow affecting England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Met Office suggests that people should prepare in case they are cut off due to disruption. It advises: "People cope better when they have prepared in advance for the risk of power cuts or being cut off from services and amenities due to the snow. It's easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items."

British Gas, in its guidance on preparing for heavy snow, recommends that UK households should have seven key items ready, including spare batteries, drinking water, extra blankets and a phone charger, reports the Express. It advises: "That's things like medicines, drinking water, non-perishable food and snacks, and extra blankets. You should also keep a torch, batteries and a phone charger close by too."

The Met Office has issued a stark warning for the weekend, stating: "Snow and ice warnings remain in force before the weather pattern shifts this weekend. The UK continues to experience wintry hazards today and into early Friday, as a cold northerly airstream brings snow showers and icy patches to parts of the country. Snow and ice warnings remain in place, with new ice warnings issued for some areas overnight into Friday morning."

Chief Forecaster Steve Willington warned: "We're still in the grip of a cold, Arctic air mass today and into Friday, and that means further wintry showers for some, and ice, particularly overnight. Multiple warnings are currently in place, with new warnings for the overnight period issued.

"Temperatures will fall sharply again tonight, with lows potentially reaching -12C in rural parts of Scotland and widely below freezing elsewhere. As temperatures fall overnight, ice will form on untreated surfaces and may cause some travel disruption tonight and into Friday morning."

The Met Office forecast for Friday reads: "A frosty start will lead to a cold but bright day although sunshine turning increasingly hazy. Thicker cloud and outbreaks of rain arriving into the northwest later."

Looking ahead from Saturday to Monday, the forecaster said: "Outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards on Saturday. Turning less cold but windy over the weekend with further spells of rain or showers Sunday and Monday, although some brighter spells too."

For the rest of November, the Met Office predicts: "Areas of cloud and showers affecting many eastern coastal counties at first, whilst showers in the far north could turn wintry for a time. Elsewhere, trending drier, a little cooler, and more settled as high pressure builds across from the Atlantic; these conditions are likely to steadily spread to all areas mid-next week.

"However, this settled interlude doesn't look like it will last too long, as cloud and rain bearing Atlantic systems arrive heralding a trend back towards more changeable, or even unsettled conditions. Towards the end of the period, an increasing chance of more settled spells once again, although confidence is very low by this point. Initially starting cold, temperatures should rise as the Atlantic weather systems arrive, and will probably more often be above average than below."