The freezing Arctic front forecast to bring snow to parts of the UK later this week is expected to have petered our before its arrival in Suffolk.

While freezing temperatures and 70mph gales have been forecast for large parts of Scotland and northern England, the weather further south is not predicted to reach such extremes.

Chris Bell, a forecaster for Weatherquest, said that although Thursday would be “windy” with northwesterly gusts reaching up to 45mph there was little chance of snow or disruption.

“The strongest winds and the highest chance of snow will be in the north of England possible reaching the north Norfolk coast” he said.

“The front, by the time it comes this way, will be rain, with maybe a little bit of sleet on the back edge but nothing that would give an accumulation.”

Mr Bell said the strongest winds were expected to arrive at around noon on Thursday, gradually diminishing over the afternoon.

Daytime temperatures on Thursday are not expected to fall below 6C though a sharp cold snap overnight on Friday could drop as low as -4C.

“There’s likely to be a sharp frost behind the cold front,” Mr Bell said.