Snow could fall in days as an Arctic blast brings wind, rain and freezing temperatures to the UK in a new cold snap.
Weather maps from WXCharts show that flurries of snow are likely to fall early on Saturday morning across the Scottish Highlands between Fort William and Inverness.
However, for most of the UK, this week will bring a week of unsettled weather, with winds and rain dominating the forecasts. But fear not as the sun is likely to make brief appearances throughout the week, forecasters predict.
"Temperatures will be a degree or two down [on Monday]," said BBC meteorologist Helen Willetts, "but not that many showers".
A chilly night is to be expected on Monday, with a "touch of grass frost" and temperatures "close to freezing" in some rural parts of England and Wales, Willetts added.
Come Tuesday, things are looking up - with Willetts insisting there will be "lots of dry and bright weather and plenty more sunshine", with highs of 15 or 16 degrees by the afternoon. Unfortunately, by the evening, temperatures will fall across the country, drizzly rain will start moving across Northern Ireland, and mist and fog may cause issues across England and Wales.
Willett says there is "uncertainty where the next batch of wind and rain will go" as it moves in from the Atlantic on Wednesday and Thursday.
And the rest of the week? "Southern areas could see some significant rain," Willett warned. "And then some strong winds, even some gales and more rain for the Northern half of the country on Friday."
Willett concluded that it "looks more unsettled from midweek on".
UK five-day weather forecast
Today:
Early cloud and rain over East Anglia and southern England soon clearing. Otherwise fine and dry with sunny spells for many but windy and showery in the northwest.
Tonight:
Showers continuing in the northwest but winds gradually easing. Otherwise good clear spells and light winds and turning chilly with some ground frost in south and central parts.
Tuesday:
Fine and dry with sunny spells for England and Wales. Cloudier for Northern Ireland and Scotland, though eastern parts faring well, with showers giving way to some rain in west.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Patchy rain moving southeastward on Wednesday. Heavy rain crossing all areas from the southwest on Thursday. Very windy with heavy showers in the north Friday, sunny spells in the south.
