Weather maps have turned an icy blue as temperatures are set to plunge towards the end of November, with snow flurries possibly on the horizon too.
With Storm Debi having departed UK shores, and wind and rain dialled back, maps suggest the next hazard on the horizon for Britons is a bitter chill.
While temperatures have stabilised for now, charts appear to show the beginnings of a cold front manifesting over the next week.
Many people, especially those living in Scotland, will see their first glimpse of snow in autumn/winter 2023.
And they may struggle as the late autumn chill sends temperatures below 0C for the first time, with some areas to see lows of -7C.
Maps posted by WXCharts show the UK’s months-long extreme spell has settled for now, leaving temperatures in the low single figures across the country.
Over the weekend, the mercury is expected to hold steady around maximums of 11C and lows of 4C or 5C.
The stability will dissipate by Wednesday, November 22, when maps show a creeping cold spell rolling in from France and the Netherlands.
The mainland chill appears set to rapidly push temperatures south, with lows of 0C on Thursday, November 23, dropping to -7C in Scotland by the weekend.
Western Scotland will likely reach those frigid lows by 12am on Sunday, November 26, with the rest of the country’s middle flank seeing between -3C and -6C.
The severe lows are expected to last until the same time the following Monday as the rest of the country endures temperatures between 1C and 4C.
For Scotland, the system could also bring snow, with highs of 10cm over high ground in the bitterly cold west and 9cm, 8cm and 3cm in a band across the home nation’s middle.
The breakneck drop marks the start of a turbulent period for the country, according to the Met Office, with the agency’s long-range forecast for Tuesday, November 21, to Thursday, November 30, predicting “fairly changeable” weather.
The forecast states: “Towards the end of the week, rain may spread south over the UK and introduce cooler conditions from the north, with some wintry showers over the hills.
“However, beyond this, the rest of the period is likely to be fairly changeable, with rain or showers at times, though southern areas at least will probably see less rain than of late with temperatures everywhere probably around normal for the time of year.”
