Exact date Lancashire temperatures could plunge to 0C as UK set for snow
Lancashire is bracing for a sharp drop in temperatures, with the mercury expected to hit 0C soon.
The region has already been lashed by 'heavy and persistent' rain this week, with a yellow weather warning in place for eastern areas of the county until midnight tonight (September 26). Weather maps now suggest that conditions will only deteriorate, ending hopes of an 'Indian Summer'.
Despite temperatures hovering around 10 degrees recently and set to continue into the weekend, a significant chill is forecast from Wednesday, October 2. According to WXCharts, we're heading into a period of harsher winter weather with a "brutal" polar blast set to sweep the nation, the Mirror reports.
READ MORE: Met Office verdict on 'Indian Summer' hitting the UK and 'most likely scenario'
A harsh weather front is anticipated to sweep across areas including the Highlands, Perth and Kinross, and Stirling. Meanwhile, snow is on the cards for places like the Cairngorms, Ullapool, Inverness, and Fort William, with even the Lake District in England expecting a light sprinkling.
However, no snow is predicted for Lancashire in the near future, but residents should prepare for colder days ahead. It comes as warnings of heavy rain which could cause flooding and travel disruption have been upgraded for parts of England.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for areas of the Midlands and south of the country, set to come into force at 6pm on Thursday and last for 12 hours.
Yellow rain warnings had already been in place for large parts of England and Wales and western parts of Northern Ireland. Areas affected by the amber warning, including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands, could see 30-40mm of rainfall within three hours, according to the forecaster.
The Met Office said: "Slow moving showers and thunderstorms will develop through the afternoon, merging into a large band of heavy rain through the evening, before clearing slowly south overnight. Some places, especially across central and eastern parts of the warning area, are likely to receive 30-40mm in three hours or less, and perhaps 50-60mm or more in around six hours.
"This rain will fall onto already saturated ground and affect communities recovering from recent flooding. Travel disruption and further flooding is likely, with rivers continuing to rise after the rain clears."
Met Office forecaster Paul Gundersen added: "With the rain on Wednesday and Thursday potentially falling on already saturated ground a number of warnings for rain have been issued outlining the increased risks for potential impacts."
The Environment Agency has 27 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected and 67 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible. The rain is expected to clear during Friday leaving conditions much colder on Saturday.