Pictures: Parts of Devon sees snow as new weather warning of strong winds and heavy rain issued for region

Devon is set for some unsettled weather over the next two days with more freezing temperatures, gale-force winds and rain forecast throughout the day. Hail and thunder hit the region on Tuesday night, but fears of a snowy white-out were largely unfounded. Roads took a covering of hailstones and driving conditions were briefly treacherous, but by dawn the layer had melted away. However, on higher ground there was more snowfall, and on Dartmoor a layer of snow was still lying on roads and fields on Wednesday morning. See a selection of pictures below

Snowy here on Dartmoor as dawn breaks pic.twitter.com/2m8AndoZXs

— Sarah Ransome (@Sarah_Ransome) January 14, 2015

A snowy walk to school for these guys in Princetown on Dartmoor this morning! #MattandCaroline#Snow⛄️❄️ pic.twitter.com/lsWxEINlVU

— Heart South West (@heartsouthwest) January 14, 2015

Lovely sun rise #Whiddon#down#dartmoor bit of s chill when arrived tunnels clear of #snow now pic.twitter.com/d9sKAPBGWM

— herbs & edibles (@laurelfarmherbs) January 14, 2015

Police and council officials were warning drivers that conditions could still be tricky in places. The coldest place in the county was Halwill Junction near Okehampton. Now a warning of heavy rain and strong winds are in place for today and tomorrow. As lunchtime approaches strong winds will move in with more heavy showers. The rain will become increasingly heavy with winds reaching up to 80mph in exposed areas. Despite the rather grim outlook temperatures will pick up this evening with 9c possible. It will remain very windy overnight with gales or severe gales, strongest over exposed coasts and hills. The rain will become heavy and persistent, but will clear to the east by dawn with scattered showers following. Temperatures will be around 4c. A Chief forecaster for The Met Office said: "Another Atlantic low pressure system is expected to deepen significantly as it tracks towards the UK. The strongest winds will initially be across England and Wales during the second half of Wednesday into early Thursday before moderating. This may also lead to large waves on some coasts of Wales and southern England. A separate area of very strong winds is likely to affect more northern areas of the UK through Thursday, particularly affecting Northern Ireland and the Central Belt of Scotland. "As well as the very strong winds, a band of squally rain is likely to sweep eastwards across many parts through the period. "The exact track of this system is still open to some uncertainty as is the location of the strongest winds, particularly across the north on Thursday and this warning will be updated as and when necessary to fine tune the areas at risk from the impacts."