Wet weather is predicted over the coming week
(Picture: PA)London is set to be swept by a cold winter front that plunges the capital into sub-zero temperatures next week.
Forecasters warn that it could lead to overnight temperatures plummeting to -2C next Thursday.
Londoners may wish to break out their big coats as winter roars in with scattered showers and heavy winds from Sunday.
Snow is not expected in London but could fall in parts of northern England over the coming days, meteorologists have warned.
The Met Office said: “On Tuesday, showers and rain are expected in the South, South-East and North of the UK. Snow and heavy showers are then possible across high ground. Moderate winds are expected in most areas, locally strong in the North and perhaps South of the UK.
“Occasional showers and moderate winds are expected throughout the rest of the period, especially around northern coasts, with more persistent rainfall likely in southern regions.
“Snow and snow showers are expected at times across high-ground areas. Temperatures are likely to be below normal through the period, possibly feeling rather cold.”
Saturday will be cloudy with some brighter spells, isolated showers and maximum temperatures of 7C.
The weather is expected to become “cold and often cloudy” from Sunday to Tuesday, with heavy winds and scattered showers throughout.
It comes after the Met Office revealed that the mild autumn has kept 2022 on track to become the hottest year on record.
Provisional figures show that this autumn — September, October and November — was the third warmest on record for the UK, with an average temperature of 11.1C. It is topped only by 2011 and 2006.
Every month in 2022 has been warmer than average, with the first 11 months the hottest on record for the UK.
Mike Kendon of the National Climate Information Centre said: “Although it’s too early to guarantee that 2022 will be the UK’s warmest year, the first 11 months have set up the distinct possibility of a record-breaking warm year, with only a very cold December able to potentially influence where the year will eventually sit in the record books.
“All of the top 10 warmest years on record for the UK have occurred since 2002; a clear indicator of our warming climate.
“Human-induced climate change has increased the likelihood of extreme heat as we saw in July this year, but this year has also seen persistent warmth resulting in the year overall challenging the record previously set in 2014.”
