Snow and sleet is forecast to hit the UK this week as the mercury plummets bringing an abrupt end to a period of unseasonably mild weather.
Temperatures will feel close to freezing on Tuesday and Wednesday as a bitterly cold wind sweeps across Britain, according to the Met Office.
Showers are expected to turn wintry in some higher parts of England by Wednesday.
The freezing weather is the result of winds blowing in from continental Europe. They are likely to affect UK, in particularly southern parts, throughout the end of November.
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna told the Standard: “The main theme this week is that it is going to be cloudy and showery and increasingly cold.
“On Monday the last of the sunny skies are in the far west of the UK, after that there will be generally quite a lot of cloud around, showers feeding in from the east and filtering across to western areas by the afternoon.
“Most showers will be rain today and there will be a chilly wind around, with temperatures around 8 to 10C but feeling colder.
“Overnight we will see a touch of frost develop and there will be further showers from the east tomorrow.”
Tuesday and Wednesday are forecast to be the coldest days on the week.
“Tuesday will be another cloudy and showery day particularly in the south east and north eastern parts of England,” Mr Petagna said.
“Showers could turn wintry over the hills and higher areas of England, with sleet and snow possible.
“It will be 5 to 6C in most areas but feeling close to freezing because of the wind.
“On Wednesday the worst of the weather will be in Scotland and Northern Ireland where there will be showers.
“It will be brighter in England and Wales but still cold. Tuesday and Wednesday will be the coldest days this week, before temperatures start picking up towards the end of the week.”
