Scots should brace for freezing temperatures as low as -2C this week when an Arctic cold snap sweeps in, the Met Office has warned.
The distinctly autumnal weather is forecasted to bring below average temperatures for the season. Monday could mark the first day people turn on the heating as the "coldest night of the season so far".
Temperature highs will be in the mid-teens while some areas won't break above single-digit weather this week. Rain and strong winds are in the cards, with heavy showers to batter parts of Scotland and Northern England.
"A cold front pushing in from the north will bring rain and strong winds later tomorrow and overnight into Monday," said Alexander Burkill, senior operational meteorologist at the Met Office.
"Behind it we will have cold, northerly air moving in which is why the weather will feel more autumnal this week.
"Temperatures will be a little below average for the time of year with highs for most in the mid-teens Celsius, although some chillier spots in the north may stay in single figures. Monday night into Tuesday looks likely to be the coldest when temperatures in prone rural spots are likely to dip a little below freezing, around -2C.
"Thereafter there will be a gradually rise in temperatures but it will still feel more like autumn than of late due to brisk winds and some showers too."
Alex added: "Low temperatures overnight will not be massively colder, I would expect Monday night through to Tuesday to be a cold one at -2C, and could be the coldest night of the season so far.
There will be showers on Monday night and through Tuesday with heavier rain hitting northern Scotland. The Met Office forecasts the heaviest showers will thrash northeast Scotland on Tuesday.
Last night the cold snap dropped temperatures to -0.3 °C in Eskdalemuir, a small village in Dumfries and Galloway.
The Met Office's five-day forecast
Turning colder and windier, with sunshine and scattered showers.
Monday:
Rain soon clearing southern England, then sunny spells and scattered showers, more frequent in the north and in coastal areas exposed to the northwest, some sheltered inland areas seeing comparatively few. Windy; feeling colder, especially in the north and east.
Monday night:
Some clear spells for most places, but showers continuing in areas exposed to the northwest, some running inland from Cheshire across the Midlands. Heavier showers affecting northern Scotland. Chilly and breezy.
Tuesday:
A continued mixture of sunshine and showers, heaviest in northeast Scotland, and quite frequent in areas exposed to the northwest. Some inland areas fine. Feeling chilly, although winds slowly easing.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Sunny intervals and showers, perhaps more organised rain across the northeast at times. Heavier rain and strong winds spreading quickly eastwards on Friday. Rather cold with patchy overnight grass frost.
