Britain braces for first widespread frosts as temperatures set to plum | Weather | News
As the clocks prepare to turn back and the nights grow longer, autumn has taken hold of Britain and the country is now preparing for the first widespread frosts of the season.
Temperatures are expected to fall rapidly on Thursday and Friday night, dropping into low single figures across the country and potentially dropping to freezing in parts of the Pennines as far south as the Peak District.
The Met Office has warned that lowest temperatures, a chilling -1C (30F) are expected to affect the north Pennine parts of County Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland.
The cold nights are predicted to be the result of a “cold draft from the north” following a week of heavy, stormy and sometimes thunderstorms across the country.
The clocks will go back as the country trembles
The cold weather will begin in the early hours of Sunday, just a few days before the clocks go back, marking the official start of the winter season.
As Britons prepare to set their watches, they will also be reaching for their warmest coats and gloves to combat the icy conditions.
After a short period of mild weather over the weekend, the country is preparing to wake up to a cold and icy day on Monday morning. Temperatures are expected to drop overnight, with the coldest parts of rural Scotland potentially falling as low as -7C or even -8C, while rural areas across England could be shivering in -2C or -3C conditions.
Even in towns and cities, overnight lows are expected to be around 1C or 2C.
Met Office warns of ‘widespread frost’ and ‘icy areas’
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud urged Britons to be more careful on their morning journeys, warning that “we can expect widespread frost with a few frosts on Tuesday morning.”
As rain falls across the country later on Tuesday, higher elevations in northern England are likely to see snow, adding to the wintry mix.
Mr Stroud assured the snow would be “fairly short-lived” and would melt as temperatures rise on Wednesday.
However, in typical British fashion, the weather is set to change again, with “rainy and windy” conditions set to prevail rather than cold weather for the rest of the week.
Weekend heat gives way to single-digit highs
The rapid cooling is in stark contrast to the mild conditions experienced across the country over the weekend. Met Office figures show the hottest spot on Saturday was Chivenor in Devon, where temperatures reached a pleasant 16C (61F).
However, high temperatures across England were expected to be in single digits today as the disruptive nature of winter weather continues.
