TEMPERATURES are expected to plummet this weekend, with the possibility of snow predicted by forecasters.

A cold snap has been forecast by the Met Office for this weekend, with temperatures feeling like as little as -1C by 8pm tonight.

A yellow weather warning is in place for ice and snow for the West of the county from 3am tomorrow morning until noon.

This will lead to widespread frost with localised ice patches likely, the Met Office say, with wintry showers likely later.

Saturday is expected to be another cold day with sunny spells and scattered wintry showers, some heavy and thundery in some places.

And some snow is possible especially over the hills and outbreaks of rain are also possible later.

From Sunday, the cold weather is likely to continue with sunny spells and wintry showers.

The Met Office forecast for Dorset:  "There will be overnight frosts with isolated fog and ice patches and outbreaks of rain could turn to sleet or possibly snow on Sunday and Tuesday."

Currently, the Met Office is predicting possible light snowfall for Dorset from 3pm on Sunday through the evening.

Met office forecasting rain turning to snow into sunday evening lasting until monday morning.

— Dorset Snow (@DorsetSnow) January 16, 2015 And it is expected to feel like -4C, only rising three degrees to -1C by midday on Monday.

The Met Office has issued a level 2 cold weather alert for the area, which is an ‘alert and readiness’ warning.

They say there is a 60 per cent chance of freezing conditions, which triggers the alert.

A spokesperson said: “This is an important stage for social and healthcare services who will be working to ensure readiness and swift action to reduce harm from a potential period of cold weather.”

They are advising people that ‘prolonged periods of cold weather can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very old or those with chronic diseases.’ Ice and snow warnings have been issued for others parts of the country, mainly in the north for today and Saturday.