A blast of arctic air is heading our way and bringing cold winter weather with it. While some parts of the UK are expected to see snow and temperatures as low as -10C, Somerset looks set to escape the worst of the weather with overnight temperatures reaching a balmy-in-comparision -2C.

That said, -2C is still pretty chilly and with many people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and soaring energy bills, there are increased health risks to vulnerable people.

Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud told the PA news agency: "We've got a spell of showers feeding into North Sea coastal areas during Tuesday. They will turn increasingly wintry across parts of northern Scotland, with accumulations on higher ground. Elsewhere, while sunny, there will be a cold feel, with temperatures just below average. There are, however, forecasts of widespread frost and wintery showers between Thursday and Saturday.

"But with some strong winds it's going to feel a lot cooler than it actually is. Into Tuesday night an organised band of showers will sink south, (with) that wind changing direction and coming in from the north, turning it colder with an increasing risk of some frost, mainly in central and western areas.

"Once that wind rears around to the north, we're going to pull in that colder arctic air, so the story will be about cold and frost."

Mr Stroud said day temperatures will range between 4-6C in the north, reaching highs of 8C in the south, while it will drop to as low as -6C overnight. Temperatures could drop to -1C overnight across the South West, with widespread frosts and wintry showers forecast from Thursday to Saturday.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebekah Sherwin added: "We can expect to see some snow and wintry showers further south as the week progresses, particularly in coastal areas or over higher ground.

"There will be widespread frosts with temperatures falling to as low as minus 10C overnight in isolated spots by the end of the week."

Downing Street on Monday said it was confident the UK has sufficient energy supplies to get through the cold snap.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, consultant in public health medicine at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said older people and those with heart or lung conditions are particularly at risk from the cold weather, adding: "If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you.

"In rooms you mostly use, such as the living room or bedroom, try to heat them to at least 18C if you can. Keep your bedroom windows closed at night. Wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer."

Somerset residents who are struggling to keep warm during the winter can now access a 'warm welcome space' in their local area. The network, dubbed the Warm Welcome initiative, allows people to participate in activities, get work or homework done, or just meet other people for a chat.

The county council has now published a full list of the venues, which includes every library in Somerset along with a number of churches, village halls and cafés.

Each of the 70 locations selected have signed up to the 'Warm Welcome Charter', comprising the following five core principles:

1. You'll get a Warm Welcome as well as a warm space
2. Everyone is treated equally, with dignity and respect
3. Our Warm Welcome will be a safe space
4. We will not tell anyone about you visiting a Warm Welcome
5. It doesn't matter why you need a Warm Welcome

Spark Somerset has been providing advice and support for the setting up of Warm Welcome spaces, ensuring that they meet the necessary criteria and comply with these five principles.

Here's a list of every Warm Welcome space which will be open in Somerset:

• Bishop's Lydeard Library, Church Street, Bishop's Lydeard
• Talking café at The Hub, Angel Place Shopping Centre, Angel Crescent, Bridgwater
• Bridgwater Library, Binford Place, Bridgwater
• St Mary's Church, St Mary Street, Bridgwater
• Bruton Library, Quaperlake Street, Bruton
• Talking café at Burnham-on-Sea Methodist Church, 35a College Street, Burnham-on-Sea
• Burnham-on-Sea Library, 1 Princess Street, Burnham-on-Sea
• Talking café at The King Alfred Inn, Burrow Drove, Burrowbridge
• Castle Cary Library, Bailey Hill, Castle Cary
• Castle Cary Methodist Church, Upper High Street, Castle Cary
• Talking café at The Guildhall, 14 Fore Street, Chard
• Talking café at Essex House Medical Centre, 59 Fore Street, Chard
• Chard Library, Holyrood Lace Mill, Holyrood Street, Chard
• Talking café at Tawstock Medical Centre, St Mary's Crescent, Chard
• Talking café at Springmead Surgery, Summerfields Road, Chard
• Hannah More Cottage, Lower North Street, Cheddar
• Cheddar Library, Union Street, Cheddar
• Hestercombe Gardens, Cheddon Fitzpaine
• Creech St. Michael Village Hall, Ryesland Way, Creech St Michael
• Talking café at Creech St Michael Baptist Church, St Michael Road, Creech St Michael
• Crewkerne Library, Falkland Square, Crewkerne
• Talking café at Magna, Fishers Mead Community Room, 12 Fishers Mead, Dulverton
• Dulverton Library, 7-9 Fore Street, Dulverton
• Frome Library, Justice Lane, Frome
• Glastonbury Library, 1 Orchard Court, The Archers Way, Glastonbury
• Talking café at Hope Baptist Church, 106 Church Street, Highbridge
• Morland Hub, Pearce Drive, Highbridge
• Ilminster Library, Ditton Street, Ilminster
• Langport Library, Whatley, Langport (includes talking café)
• Martock Library, The Shopping Centre, Martock
• Merriott Village Hall, Broadway, Merriott
• Merriott Social Venue, 71 Lower Street, Merriott
• Milborne Port Library Van, East Street Car Park , Milborne Port
• Minehead Library, Bancks Street, Minehead
• Talking café at The Beach Hotel, The Avenue, Minehead
• The Thomas Poole Nether Stowey Library, Castle Street, Nether Stowey
• North Petherton Library, The Small Hall, North Petherton Community Centre, Fore Street, North Petherton
• Porlock Library, The Old School Centre, High Street, Porlock
• Talking café at Ruishton Village Hall, Cheats Road, Ruishton
• The Salvation Army, Old Magistrates' Court, 21 Commercial Road, Shepton Mallet
• Shepton Mallet Library, 2 Market Place, Shepton Mallet
• Somerton Library, Cox's Yard, West Street, Somerton
• St Cleer's Chapel, Pollam lane, Somerton
• South Petherton Library, St James' Corner, South Petherton
• Street Community Library, 6 Leigh Road, Street
• The Crispin Community Centre, Leigh Road, Street
• The Albemarle Centre, Albemarle Road, Taunton
• Brittons Ash Community Centre, Bridgwater Road, Bathpool, Taunton (includes talking café)
• Talking café at Bishops Hull Hub, Bishops Hull Road, Taunton
• The Brewhouse Theatre, Coal Orchard, Taunton
• Talking café at Musgrove Park Hospital, concourse near the Marks and Spencer outlet, Parkfield Drive, Taunton
• Taunton Library, Paul Street, Taunton
• Talking café at St Michaels Church, Pitts Close, Galmington, Taunton
• Wellsprings Community Church, Quantock Road, Taunton (includes talking café)
• St Petrock's Church, Church Street, Timberscombe
• Watchet Library, 11 The Esplanade, Watchet
• Talking café at St John's Church, 5 Church Fields, Wellington
• Wellington Library, 16 Fore Street, Wellington
• Elim Connect Centre, The Portway, Wells
• Wells Library, Union Street, Wells
• Wincanton Library, Carrington Way, Wincanton
• Talking café at Silver Street Church, Silver Street, Wiveliscombe
• In The Mix project, The Hub Centre, Hartswell, South Street, Wiveliscombe
• Wiveliscombe Library, 9 The Square, Wiveliscombe
• Williton Library, Killick Way, Williton
• Talking café at Williton Pavilion, Robert Street, Williton
• St Peter's Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Yeovil (includes talking café)
• Talking café at Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil
• Yeovil Library, King George Street, Yeovil
• The Huddle, 18 Vicarage Walk, Yeovil

For more details on each venue, including any variation in opening times, visit www.sparksomerset.org.uk/find-warm-welcome.

For further information about cost of living support available from the county council, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/cost-of-living.