YORK could see its first significant snowfall of the winter early on Tuesday.

A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued by the Met Office for York and North Yorkshire.

It says snow, with a risk of widespread ice, is likely to push slowly northeast, bringing difficult travel conditions, with a risk of vehicles being stranded and some roads closed, and some rural communities could become cut off.

People will also be at risk of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces and power cuts are possible.

The greatest risk of snow for York is thought to be in the early hours, with the snow now looking likely to have turned to sleet by the morning commute and then rain later in the day. The snow may last for longer in higher areas.

The hills of North Yorkshire have already seen several snowfalls this winter, but York has largely escaped, apart from a brief spell of light snow one morning earlier this month, which quickly turned to sleet and melted on the ground.

Meanwhile, the monthly outlook published by BBC Weather in association with MeteoGroup is warning that much colder weather, caused by high pressure over Scandinavia feeding easterly winds from as far away as Russia, is possible at times in February.

"This setup is similar to the classic "Beast from the East" from 2018," it says.