EAST Anglia has been warned to prepare for a severe cold snap from today which could bring the largest snowfall in seven years.Temperatures across the region are expected to drop to 3C with heavy snow showers and strong winds likely to follow later.

EAST Anglia has been warned to prepare for a severe cold snap from today which could bring the largest snowfall in seven years.

Temperatures across the region are expected to drop to 3C with heavy snow showers and strong winds likely to follow later.

But people will not need to keep out their woollies for too long, as meteorologists are predicting warmer weather for the weekend.

Ken Blowers, East Anglian Daily Times weatherman said: "A bitterly cold northerly air stream is hitting East Anglia and will reach the region at the end of today.

"The highest temperatures will be near 3C but the strong to gale force winds will make it feel like –6C.

"Tomorrow there will be an increasing risk of snow and we may see the largest amount of snowfall we have seen for a few years."

But, he added: "The intense cold will probably not last too long. Temperatures will recover slightly over the weekend."

The last time East Anglia was covered by a relatively deep blanket of snow was in February 1996, when the region had four to six inches of snowfall during a cold spell that lasted 21 days.

It will not be the first time the region has seen snow this year. On January 7 and 8, the region saw one inch of snowfall.

"There's every chance the temperatures will come up slightly during the coming weekend. The intense cold will not go on for long and it could be milder by next week," added Mr Blowers.