Exact date 'frosty' Arctic blast to hit UK with 0C temperatures, hail, thunder and snow
New weather maps show exact date the UK is set to freeze with warnings of a 0C temperature plunge, hail, thunder and snow.
Winter is set to come early with weather experts claiming that a 'frosty' Arctic blast is heading our way later this week. It comes after a deluge of rain and wind battered the country on Sunday resulting in flood warnings being issued in parts of Lancashire and numerous crashes on the region's motorways and road networks.
A deepening area of low pressure will move across Scotland from Tuesday (September 10) before spreading across the whole of the UK by mid-week. The Met Office warns that parts of the country could see flurries of the white stuff this week as conditions 'turn a good deal colder'.
READ MORE: Lancashire flood alerts issued as heavy rain causes chaos on roads and motorways
It will also bring strong winds and more heavy rain. A yellow weather warning for rain has already issued in parts of northern Scotland from the early hours of Tuesday morning until 8pm.
According to weather maps from WXCharts, the northern areas of the country could experience freezing conditions from as early as Friday (September 13). Areas around Edinburgh, Wick, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Newcastle are likely to shiver at 0C, suggest WXCharts.
However, the cold air will cover the entire country as the areas in the south will also see temperatures as low as 2C, maps show. The mercury levels are likely to hover around 2-3C in Manchester and Birmingham while London and Cardiff could see 4-5C, maps show, reports Express.
The Met Office's long-range forecast between September 12 and 21 reads: "Initially cool with northerly winds providing showers along exposed northern, western and eastern coasts, but also a few inland at times too, although central and southern areas may stay fairly dry and sunny. Showers wintry on the mountain tops in Scotland.
"Towards the end of the week and into the weekend it will likely turn more widely drier for a time, especially in central and southern areas, with the greater chance of rain and blustery conditions in the north and northwest. A gradual recovery in temperature is also expected as winds become more westerly.
"By the following week, while confidence is low a trend towards more settled conditions is most likely, accompanied by warmer temperatures. That said, some rain or showers are still possible, especially in the south and/or northwest.
UK Weather Forecast Lewis said: "Cooler conditions move in from the north with a north to north-westerly flow developing. It remains unsettled with further wet and at times blustery weather, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday but it will certainly be cooler with single figure overnight temperatures for many from Wednesday night.
"Even a ground frost is possible in rural northern areas later in the working week."
A Met Office spokesperson said: "Elsewhere, rain will work southwards across the country tomorrow (Tuesday) bringing cold northerly winds with it. "This markedly cold, showery airmass spreads across the whole of the UK by mid-week with hail and thunder in places, and there is the chance some of the showers could turn wintry over some Scottish mountains."
While no snow is expected to fall in Lancashire, daytime temperatures in the region will drop to around 13C on Wednesday - with night-time lows of 4C into Thursday.