SOMERSET was expecting snow today as the region struggles to keep warm during the cold snap.

The Met Office says rain will spread eastwards turning to snow throughout the afternoon.

Any snow will then turn to rain beforeclearing during the night.

Parts of Britain have been placed on amber alert today as the country lies in wait for widespread snow.

The Met Office’s severe weather warning, at the second highest level, urges people to be prepared as forecasters warned of up to 15cm of snow.

Sub-zero temperatures are expected in much of the country, with the mercury likely to hit minus 9 across the Midlands.

A temperature of minus 10.6C was recorded in Chesham, Buckinghamshire at 2am, and of minus 10.3C in Benson, Oxfordshire.

Billy Payne, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: “We will see a frontal system that will push south eastwards across the UK and the rain associated with it will turn to snow.

“There will be some significant accumulations quite widely across much of England. Away from the South West and across eastern parts of Scotland we are looking at 5 to 10cm of snow in many areas."

Much of England is also under a Cold Weather alert of level 3, which warns of “100% probability” of severe cold weather, icy conditions and heavy snow.

The deep freeze has seen daytime temperatures plummet four or five degrees lower than average for February – traditionally the coldest month of the year.

A spokesman for the Local Government Association (LGA) said an army of council staff and volunteers would be braving the elements to make sure vulnerable people were cared for, and residents were also being encouraged to call in on elderly neighbours.

“Motorists are being advised to check the latest weather and gritting updates on council websites and ’gritter Twitter’ feeds, as well as refresh themselves on winter driving guidance and what to stock in their car,” he said.

“Information about school closures and bin collections is also being updated regularly online.

“Thousands of new grit bins have been placed in estates and side streets, residents have been given their own bags of salt along with salt spreaders in some neighbourhoods, and arrangements have been made with parish councils, community groups, snow wardens and farmers to grit hard-to-reach areas.

“There is no law against people clearing pavements or public spaces. Ministers have repeatedly welcomed public-spiritedness and said common sense, benefit of the doubt in favour of helpfulness and a responsibility on people to tread carefully in slippery conditions should prevail in the face of complaints. Many council websites carry advice on clearing pavements.”

The Department for Transport said it was now better prepared than ever for severe winter weather.

It said salt stocks across Great Britain stood at more than 2.4 million tonnes - a million more than last year.

A spokeswoman said January 2011 salt stocks were 810,000 tonnes, while January 2012 stocks were 2.497 million tonnes – a 208% increase.

The AA said its patrols attended around double the usual number of breakdowns yesterday.

Areas expected to record snowfall of up to 15cm include Cumbria, Lincolnshire, East Anglia, North Yorkshire, the Peak District and the Midlands.