Warm up warm - winter is set to bite us in Huddersfield.

Huddersfield weatherman Paul Stevens and his colleagues across the country are warning of a bitter cold snap fuelled by Polar air.

It means the record-breaking mild temperatures of December will be swept away, with temperatures set to fall below freezing.

And there is every likelihood of sleet and snow firstly on the hills around Huddersfield and then across the whole town by the middle of next week.

Great drone footage of the heavy snowfall last winter courtesy of John Longson

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The first snow could hit the moors by Sunday night but most areas are likely to see snow within days.

Mr Stevens said: “It is going to be a massive change from the wet but incredibly mild days we have been seeing.

“We had record-breaking temperatures in December along with the rain, but now it seems as though temperatures will fall.

“It’s time to hoist the warnings for a major pattern change by Sunday with much colder weather on the way for Huddersfield, Kirklees and Calderdale as winds turn north and even North East direct from the Arctic. This isn’t going to be a short snap but a prolonged period of much colder weather, with some snow.

“It could be with us for at least seven days and perhaps much longer.

Let's hope the gritting problems have been ironed out from last winter

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People will notice it as the temperatures could be as much as 10°C below what we have been used to. In some areas, with a clear night, temperatures could drop to as low as minus 5°C and during the days they will struggle to get above 2 or 3°C.

“The weather has been exceptionally mild and this is a big change. There will be sleet or snow for us all by the middle of next week”.

Mr Stevens said it was not yet possible to say when and where the snow would fall, but it could be some substantial snow falls in places. There will be night frosts and temperatures by Monday and most areas will be struggling to get much above freezing.

Before then, there is likely to be more heavy rain particularly over the weekend.

“Friday is a sunshine and showers day but some of the showers heavy at times.

Snow on Bolster Moor

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“Saturday looks a very wet day with one pulse of rain in the morning before becoming dry for a time before another pulse of heavy rain through the evening and first part of the night. There is the potential for 30-40mm of rain in 12-18 hours so this need watching carefully with the saturated ground. Some flooding in prone areas is possible.

Remember the heavy snow of winter 2010?

“Sunday starts the change to much colder conditions as low pressure crosses southern UK as this clears there is the chance for some snow on the northern edge before a strong northerly winds sets in Sunday night. “