Snow maps reveal 95% of UK will be buried after five straight days of blizzards

 The UK is bracing for a five-day stretch of snow that could end with 95% of the country blanketed, new weather charts show.

Snow will first land in Scotland, the northeast and parts of Northern Ireland before intensifying rapidly and spreading further south, according to data by WXCharts. In just days, several major cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle, will be in the firing line for intense flurries.

The storm is set to bring blizzard-like conditions from February 20 onwards, starting with heavy accumulations at the very top of the Scottish Highlands, including the Isle of Sky and Ullapool, by 3pm.

Newcastle, the North Pennies, and parts of the Lake District, as well as a a huge chunk of Wales and the West Midlands are also among the first areas to be hit.

On February 21, snow will intensify and move further eastwards across Scotland - this time covering Dundee, Aberdeen, and much of the Highlands. Brits further south will meanwhile see lighter accumulations falling over Blackpool, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham and parts of Wales.

By 3pm the following day, a massive band of snow will hover over the north, the data suggests. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and the Lake District are among the areas set to turn white.

But the most intense snowfall will come on February 23, by which point the majority of the UK will be covered, WXCharts predicts.

A map shows multiple towns and cities in the firing line - including all of the north, Midlands, Wales, the South West and London.

The snow will then move eastwards across the UK, the data predicts. By 3pm on February 24, intense flurries are seen falling across a huge swathe of England and Scotland.

Heavy snow looks set to remain in a number of major cities, including London - while most of the Scottish Highlands will be blanketed during this time.

It comes after the Met Office warned the UK would become "dominated" by Atlantic low-pressure systems towards the end of February, which could bring snow to high ground in northern areas and result in a rainy end to the month.

In its long-range forecast from February 15-25, the forecaster says: "The UK is expected to be dominated by Atlantic low-pressure systems, resulting in showers or longer spells of rain.

"Heavy rain is likely, particularly over western hills, with snow possible on high ground in the north. Temperatures will likely be near normal, with strong winds possible at times."