TEMPERATURES are set to drop this weekend, and could fall below zero for the first time this winter.

Snow is predicted across the country, but weather forecasters do not think it will arrive in Essex.

Instead, the Met Office is predicting sleet showers for many areas on Saturday.

Temperatures fall as low as -1C on Saturday, but it will feel like -4C.

Tom Defty, from the Essex Weather Centre, said: “This weekend I think the big story will be how cold it is going to get.

“There is no signs of any snow falls just yet.”

Earlier this week the county was hit by Storm Barney, which brought winds as strong as 63.3mph.

Mr Defty believes in the run up to Christmas Essex will see more storms, rather than snow.