The Met Office has issued a three-day snow warning for icy conditions and blizzard conditions – and people affected by the warnings are being told to prepare for possible travel disruption and power cuts.

Forecasters have issued a yellow weather warning for ice and snow for three separate days from today to Tuesday, with Scotland affected today and much of England warned on Monday and Tuesday.

The weather experts have said that as much as 10 to 20cm could fall in parts of England as well as Wales, with 10cm also possible on lower ground.

Major cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Newcastle, Sheffield and Leeds are all affected on Monday and Tuesday, with the snow warning extending from the east coast to England’s west coast and midlands.

For those affected by snow warnings, the forecaster has set advice to prepare for ice and snow disturbances.

First, make sure the cell phones are charged and have an extra fully charged battery on hand.

This is because snow can cause local power outages, so it’s best to prepare for a loss of connection. Landlines can also be cut off during storms, so charging your cell phone is the best way to be prepared.

The Met Office said: “People do better when they have prepared in advance for the possibility of power outages or being cut off from services and amenities due to the snow. It’s easy to do; consider collecting flashlights and batteries, a cell phone battery and other essentials subject.

“People cope better with power outages when they have prepared for them in advance and it’s easy to do. The essentials that can help you cope with a power outage are: candles and matches or lighters, flashlights and batteries, a power pack for mobile phones.

“If your power goes out, these simple steps can help you deal with the situation: Turn off all electrical appliances that should not be left unattended, ready when the power comes back on.

“Leave a light on so you know when the power outage has been fixed.

“Check if your neighbors are safe and if they also have a power outage. If they have power, your trip switch may have tripped.

“Turn in. If it’s cold, turn in warm and close interior doors to keep the heat in.

Portable heaters are a good option if the heating systems are down.

“Call 105 for information, it’s a free service for people in England, Scotland and Wales.”

The Met Office UK forecast says: “A period of rain, sleet and snow will occur during Monday evening, overnight into Tuesday morning.

“The most likely scenario is for most of the snow to accumulate on hills, with 5 to 10 cm possible above 200 meters and perhaps as much as 15 to 20 cm above 300 meters. There is a slight chance of snow settling at lower levels, where 5 to 10 cm would prove much more disruptive, but this is still very uncertain.

“As rain, sleet and snow clears Tuesday morning, ice may form on untreated surfaces.”