More snow has been forecast for southern England, but London could be spared another dumping and, even in the worst-case scenario, the next cold snap is not expected to last.

Last month was confirmed as the coldest December for at least a century, and another bank of snow is forecast to hit parts of Wales and western England tomorrow, timed for around the morning rush hour.

The areas expected to be hit, according to the Met Office, will begin with parts of south Wales, Bristol and Gloucestershire before north Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and the fringes of Birmingham.

The snow is not expected to exceed 5cm, though, and the temperature should be sufficiently high to bring a mixture of snow, sleet and rain.

“It will be around 0C to 3C, the sort of range where snow can turn to sleet and rain, so we’re not expecting much to settle apart from on higher ground,” a Met Office spokeswoman said.