Brits are bracing for freezing temperatures in the coming days as a ‘cold Arcitc air’ engulfs the country – with snowy showers also expected to fall over high ground
Cold Arctic air and snowy showers are set to blast the UK and send temperatures plunging as low as -1C in some areas, the Met Office has said.
The forecaster took to X to warn Brits that now is the time “to dig out those winter woolies” as they announced temperatures would suddenly plummet across the country this weekend. A band of low pressue from the Arctic will sweep in through Friday night and Saturday, bringing a “unsettled and significantly colder” weather, as well as rain or showers to most regions.
The cold blast is set to disrupt highs of between 9C to 12C in the days prior, causing temperatures to plummet to below freezing in Scotland by Sunday. In the south, temperatures will dip as low as 6C in London, while Brighton, Reading and Oxford will be slighly cooler at 5C.
In Manchester, temperatures are predicted to drop to as low as 1C overnight by the end of the week, with temperatures elsewhere in the north west falling as low as -1C.
The sudden turn will also bring “snow showers mainly over higher ground” in the north. The Met Office said it will be “significantly colder” in the UK from Saturday, warning that rain and showers will likely be seen in most regions. “The heaviest and most frequent spells of rain are most likely in the north where they are likely to turn wintry, especially to the hills of Scotland, but perhaps also to lower levels as colder air digs south,” reads the Met Office’s long-range forecast for November 16 to November 25.
It added: “The chance of any widespread or disruptive snowfall affecting more populated areas at this stage however remains low. Parts of the south may well see a fair amount of fine and dry weather. Often windy, with a chance of gales at times, especially in the north and east. Temperatures falling below average and feeling particularly cold in the strong winds.”
Posting a graphic to X showing the change in weather over the coming days, the Met Office warned: “Now’s the time to dig out those winter woolies.
“Whilst November has been mild, dry and dull so far, a change to colder, windier and wetter weather is on the way this weekend.”