More snow is set to cloak the UK amidst warnings of freezing temperatures and gale force winds, less than a fortnight after blizzard conditions brought disruption to schools, airports and traffic networks.

Up to 10cm of snow will settle in places on Tuesday afternoon and many Britons will be buffeted with 60mph to 70mph gusts.

Amber "be prepared" warnings for snow have been issued by the Met Office for many parts of Scotland, including the Highlands and Western Isles, Strathclyde, the south west, Lothian and Borders and Central, Tayside and Fife areas.

In England, the north-west, north-east and East Midlands are also affected, but it is Scotland that is likely to have the coldest February for more than 20 years.

A yellow "be aware" alert for high winds in many regions including Orkney and Shetland, the Highlands and Strathclyde is also in place.

The Met Office said there is a 70% probability of snow or icy conditions hitting parts of England by Friday and the Arctic air is likely to continue to send a chilling draught across the sceptred isle for the whole of February.

A forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "The worst of the snow storms will have been overnight and throughout this morning, with the risk of snow decreasing throughout the day.

"Western Scotland will predominantly get the heaviest snow, with up to 10cms, while northern Ireland and Wales will see up to 4cms and north England up to six.

"However, other areas, even in the south, might see some light snow storms, hail and sleet.

"There will also be some pretty strong winds throughout the morning, in areas affected by these snow showers, which will result in blizzard conditions."

The forecaster added: "By the end of the week there could be more snow storms around, and even parts of the south may see some snow."

Snowstorms brought parts of the country to a standstill at the end of January.

Hundreds of drivers were forced to spend the night in their cars on the M6 in Lancashire after more than a foot of snow fell.

Widespread floods caused by melting snow and heavy rain followed the cold snap.

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• Winter weather Jan 25

  A man uses a tractor as he tries to try and keep the roads open in Tanfield, Durham as more snows falls in the UK.

• Winter weather Jan 25

  A woman digs her way out after more snow falls today in Tanfield County, Durham.

• Winter weather Jan 25

  A woman digs her way out after more snow falls today in Tanfield County, Durham.

• Winter weather Jan 25

  A man uses a tractor as he tries to try and keep the roads open in Tanfield, Durham as more snows falls in the UK.

• Winter weather Jan 25

  A woman digs her way out after more snow falls today in Tanfield County, Durham.

• Winter weather Jan 25

  A woman digs her way out after more snow falls today in Tanfield County, Durham.

• Winter weather Jan 25

  Two woman battle through the snow after more snow falls today in Tanfield County Durham.

• Winter weather Jan 25

  A man shovels snow after more snow falls today in Tanfield County Durham.

• Winter weather Jan 25

  A woman digs her way out after more snow falls today in Tanfield County, Durham.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  A man struggles in the snow as he walks past the starters box on the PGA Centenary Course after more snowfall today at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire. The course will be used for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  A road traffic sign covered in snow and ice at Spring Cottage, Derbyshire as the winter weather continues across the UK.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  People struggle in the snow with shovels on a golf course at Gleneagles after more snowfall today in Perthshire.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  A man struggles in the snow as he walks past the starters box on the PGA Centenary Course after more snowfall today at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire. The course will be used for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  A man walks his dog near Auchterarder, Perthshire after heavy snowfall overnight.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Loggers Trucks collect trees in Kielder Forest, Northumberland where snow fell overnight.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Snow and ice cover barges and boats at Foxton Locks in Market Harborough, Leicestershire as the winter weather continues across the UK

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  General view of a street in Pricetown, Dartmoor, as snow starts to fall again.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Don Clegg, 80, clears snow from his drive in Kielder, Northumberland as the winter weather continues across the UK.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Loggers Trucks battle up the hill in Kielder Forest, Northumberland where snow fell overnight.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  A man fits snow chains to his car in preparation for driving in hazardous conditions as the winter weather continues across the UK.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Don Clegg, 80, in his garden in Kielder, Northumberland as the winter weather continues across the UK.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Loggers Trucks collect trees in Kielder Forest, Northumberland where snow fell overnight.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Loggers Trucks collect trees in Kielder Forest, Northumberland where snow fell overnight.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Mum Stephanie Koch (right) and daughter Kadie 4 enjoy the snow in Kielder, Northumberland as the winter weather continues across the UK.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Dogs walking in Innerleithen, the Scottish Borders as snow showers hit the East of Scotland.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  A car sets off down a snow covered road in the Borders as snow showers hit the East of Scotland.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  A snow covered road in Galashiels the Scottish Borders as snow showers hit the East of Scotland.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  A horse runs along a snow covered field in the Borders as snow showers hit the East of Scotland.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Sheep look for food in the Scottish Borders as snow showers hit the East of Scotland.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  A snow covered road in Galashiels the Scottish Borders as snow showers hit the East of Scotland.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  A car sets off down a snow covered road in the Borders as snow showers hit the East of Scotland.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Mum Stephanie Koch (right) and daughter Kadie 4 enjoy the snow in Kielder, Northumberland as the winter weather continues across the UK.

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Snow and ice cover Foxton Locks in Market Harborough, Leicestershire as the winter weather continues across the UK

• Winter weather - Jan 22nd

  Snow and ice cover Foxton Locks in Market Harborough, Leicestershire as the winter weather continues across the UK

• BRITAIN-WEATHER-SNOW

  A woman walks a dog through a snow covered Rose Garden at The Arno in Birkenhead, northwest England, on January 21, 2013. Britain is braced for a continuation of the bad weather which has left closed schools and caused transport chaos in recent days, with several weather warnings in place. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

• UK Hit By Heavy Snow Fall

  NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 21: Freddy the Boston Terrier plays in the snow on January 21, 2013 in Nottingham, United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has suffered a weekend of heavy snowfall with many transport routes affected. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

• UK Hit By Heavy Snow Fall

  NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 21: Canada Geese fly from the snow covered banks of the River Trent on January 21, 2013 in Nottingham, United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has suffered a weekend of heavy snowfall with many transport routes affected. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

• UK Hit By Heavy Snow Fall

  NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 21: Wild birds feed on the snow covered banks of the River Trent on January 21, 2013 in Nottingham, United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has suffered a weekend of heavy snowfall with many transport routes affected. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

• UK Hit By Heavy Snow Fall

  LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 21: A snowman complete with cigarette and coffee cup is viewed by a squirrel in St James's Park on January 21, 2013 in London, England. The United Kingdom has suffered a weekend of heavy snowfall with many transport routes affected. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

• UK Hit By Heavy Snow Fall

  NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 21: Canada Geese fly from the snow covered banks of the River Trent on January 21, 2013 in Nottingham, United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has suffered a weekend of heavy snowfall with many transport routes affected. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

• UK Hit By Heavy Snow Fall

  LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 21: A woman walks on Birdcage Walk as snow falls on January 21, 2013 in London, England. The United Kingdom has suffered a weekend of heavy snowfall with many transport routes affected. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

• BRITAIN-WEATHER-SNOW

  Models pose around a plastic palm tree in the snow in front of Tower Bridge in central London on January 21, 2013, during a 'pop-up beach resort' promotion on the day that many consider to be the most depressing day of the year. Britain is braced for a continuation of the bad weather which has schools closed and caused transport chaos in recent days, with several weather warnings in place. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images)

• BRITAIN-WEATHER-SNOW

  A woman walks a dog through a snow covered Rose Garden at The Arno in Birkenhead, northwest England, on January 21, 2013. Britain is braced for a continuation of the bad weather which has left closed schools and caused transport chaos in recent days, with several weather warnings in place. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

• BRITAIN-WEATHER-SNOW

  People walk a dog through a snow covered Arrowe Park in Birkenhead, northwest England, on January 21, 2013. Britain is braced for a continuation of the bad weather which has left closed schools and caused transport chaos in recent days, with several weather warnings in place. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

• BRITAIN-WEATHER-SNOW

  A woman walks a dog through a snow covered Rose Garden at The Arno in Birkenhead, northwest England, on January 21, 2013. Britain is braced for a continuation of the bad weather which has left closed schools and caused transport chaos in recent days, with several weather warnings in place. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

• UK Hit By Heavy Snow Fall

  NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 21: Canada Geese fly past the snow covered banks of the River Trent on January 21, 2013 in Nottingham, United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has suffered a weekend of heavy snowfall with many transport routes affected. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

• UK Hit By Heavy Snow Fall

  LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 21: A man walks on The Blue Bridge over the partially frozen lake in St James's Park on January 21, 2013 in London, England. The United Kingdom has suffered a weekend of heavy snowfall with many transport routes affected. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

• BRITAIN-WEATHER-SNOW

  People walk a dog through a snow covered Arrowe Park in Birkenhead, northwest England, on January 21, 2013. Britain is braced for a continuation of the bad weather which has left closed schools and caused transport chaos in recent days, with several weather warnings in place. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

• BRITAIN-WEATHER-SNOW

  Models in swimwear pose in the snow at a 'pop-up beach resort' promotion in front of Tower Bridge in central London on January 21, 2013. Britain is braced for a continuation of the bad weather which has schools closed and caused transport chaos in recent days, with several weather warnings in place. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images)

• UK Hit By Heavy Snow Fall

  LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 21: Pigeons look for food in a snowy St James's Park on January 21, 2013 in London, England. The United Kingdom has suffered a weekend of heavy snowfall with many transport routes affected. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

• UK Hit By Heavy Snow Fall

  LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 21: Pigeons try to keep out of the snow by resting on a signpost in St James's Park on January 21, 2013 in London, England. The United Kingdom has suffered a weekend of heavy snowfall with many transport routes affected. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)