People are being warned to brace themselves for four inches of snow this weekend.
A warning has been issued for Leicestershire by the Met Office, urging people to keep an eye on the weather.
While there was the possibility of a dusting of snow this morning, the main fall is expected on Sunday and Monday, when a large bank of rain clouds is expected to collide with a mass of cold air, creating snowstorms throughout the Midlands and the North.
The Met Office is predicting up to about four inches (10cm) of snow on Sunday and Monday, with the possibility of more on higher ground.
With freezing temperatures predicted for the rest of the week, it could be a chilly and slippery half-term holiday for children.
A Met Office spokeswoman said: "We have issued a yellow warning and up to 10cm could fall on Leicestershire.
"As we head through the weekend, an area of low pressure will draw cold air from the north-east across the country.
"On Sunday, rain will hit the cold air and give snow for many, especially for central and northern areas of the UK."
She said there was still a lot of uncertainty about where the snow would fall.
She said: "People should stay up-to-date with the latest forecasts and warnings and be prepared for some disruption to travel."
Leicestershire County Council told all gritter lorry drivers to report to their depots yesterday evening.
A council spokeswoman said: "We will be monitoring weather forecasts closely and are prepared, should it snow."
Temperatures are not expected to get above 3C (37F) between now and Wednesday.
A spokesman for Leicester City Council said further stocks of gritting salt had been bought, at a cost of £37,000.
Gritters were out in the city last night and will be back out again tonight.
She said: "Over the past two weeks we have been restocking with grit and we have now got 1,575 tonnes of salt in stock and at least another 60 tonnes to come on Monday."
Leicester Mercury weatherman Dave Mutton said: "It looks like being quite wintry over the coming days.
"We've got eastern fronts coming up against cold air and over Sunday night into Monday that could mean snow.
"It's not as bad here as it will be in the east of America, though – they're being warned of up to 2ft of snow."
Dave said the extreme weather hitting the USA this weekend could be coming our way.
He said: "I've be keeping an eye on that low pressure.
"If it gets caught in the jet stream it could form up again and bring heavy snow here."
He said temperatures were likely to stay very low throughout next week, meaning any snow that did fall could hang around, causing a hazard to people driving and walking.
A warning has also been issued by the Highways Agency, which is responsible for motorways and trunk roads.
Steve Crosthwaite, head of the agency's National Traffic Operations Centre, said: "We would advise road users to stay alert to the possibility of severe weather and to check the latest forecast before their journey.
"Anyone setting off on Saturday should be prepared for more difficult conditions on the way home."
