Temperatures are set to plunge throughout the week with the mercury hitting zero by the weekend.
No severe weather warnings are in place for Greater Manchester but a risk of frost could catch out motorists, pedestrians and cyclists, warn the Met Office.
It’ll be the first spell of wintry weather for many across north-west England after the record mild temperatures and severe flooding over Christmas.
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Cold northwesterly winds will make the next week feel bitter, even with sunny intervals on Monday.
Average wind speeds of 15mph will make Monday’s high of 5°C feel more like 0°C, with similar results throughout the week.
Cold air spreading south could bring a very light dusting of snow to the highest parts of Salford, but sleet and hail are more likely.
By Thursday the minimum overnight temperature will drop to a chilly -1°C and sleet is forecast from around 9am.
Some ground frost is expected by Friday morning in Salford, with the ‘feels like’ temperature dropping as low as -4°C.
The wintry weather – while perfectly normal for January – will be particularly noticeable given the recent run of mild weather.
Mel Harrowsmith, Head of Civil Contingencies at the Met Office, said: “For many the weather during the coming week is likely to be the first experience of winter, with either frost, wintry showers or even snow affecting many areas of the UK.
“This change is associated with the movement of warm air northwards over the eastern United States this weekend, where heavy rain, snowfall and strong winds are forecast.
“This push of warm air northwards will lead to changes in the shape of the jet stream across the Atlantic and halt the progress of weather systems towards the UK.
“In turn this will allow cold air which is currently across northeast Europe to move westwards over the UK.”
Rain and strong winds are expected to return into the third week of January.
Atlantic systems pushing east could bring a spell of unsettled weather with cold, showery rain.
Salford expected to miss snow, sleet and hail likely – © Eddie Smith Photography
Advice from the Chartered Institute of and Heating Engineering says that local residents should take care to protect heating systems and plumbing as temperatures drop.
** In very cold weather take special care to prevent water pipes becoming frozen.
If you have a storage cistern in the roof space it will be sensible to open the hatch to allow some heat from the house to help keep the cistern from freezing.
** Make sure you know the location of, and have labelled, the stop-valve on the incoming water supply main (otherwise known as a stop-cock). It could save thousands of pounds of damage in the case of a burst pipe.
** Ensure that all exposed pipes and storage systems are properly insulated, particularly in the roof space or attic.
** If you are going away, leave the thermostat set low (at least 5°C) to help prevent pipes from freezing. And if you have one, check your insurance policy to see if you have to comply with any extra rules.
Main image: Lower Broughton Road in snow, 2013 – © Eddie Smith Photography
