Met Office explains why it's so cold as 'Arctic air' hits the UK and when warmer weather will arrive

The UK is bracing for a wet and chilly start to the summer with thundery showers predicted in parts of the country.

Stephen Dixon, a spokesperson for the Met Office, has warned that the weather will remain unsettled throughout this week. The UK has been experiencing temperatures three to five degrees below the season average over the past week.

This is because a mid-Atlantic jet stream – a fast-moving wind in the atmosphere – is guiding wind from the north to the south over the UK resulting in lower temperatures. Mr Dixon revealed that Wednesday's weather will generally stay dry in the west, while eastern parts of the UK can expect some rain. He said: "On Thursday there will be more persistent rain for much of the country."

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He further added that we should prepare for a "more unsettled weather regime" on Thursday and Friday, leading into the weekend with "thundery showers". Rainfall between 20-40mm is anticipated.

Despite temperatures lingering in the mid-teens across much of the UK during the week, Mr Dixon cautioned: "It won't feel particularly warm with the rain we have been having."

It comes as Britons will have to wait until July for warmer weather because of cold winds blowing in from the Arctic. According to meteorologists, there is no sign of better weather until the end of June.

Simon Partridge, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "It looks as if temperatures will stay near or slightly below average for the majority of the rest of June. Over the next couple of nights we’re actually expecting to see a little bit of frost in a few places.

"This will mainly be across Scotland and possibly into northern England and Northern Ireland where temperatures could get down to around freezing."

But Mr Partridge clarified that such patterns are "not unusual". He said: "On average we get an air frost – which is when the temperatures reach zero – every two to three Junes.

"So it’s not that unusual. It’s just not the norm for June to be this cool."

Looking ahead to July, Mr Partridge said that there was "no strong signal" of any particular weather pattern. He said: "The models are following the climatological norm, which indicates that temperatures are where they should be or slightly above average.

"So there is a hint of things turning slightly warmer as we move into the beginning of July, and it does look as if some spells of drier weather will become a bit more likely."