The Met Office has issued a fresh warning for Britons to brace for a spell of unsettled weather as temperatures are forecast to take a significant dip this weekend, following a brief period of milder conditions.
A Chilly Start Gives Way to Weekend Shivers
Forecasters confirmed that Wednesday began with a distinct chill across the nation. Many eastern areas woke up to fog and mist, with temperatures hovering around a brisk 3°C. While this fog is expected to clear, western regions are likely to face showers and windy conditions throughout the day.
The reprieve comes on Wednesday night, which is predicted to be milder than recent evenings, with London potentially seeing highs of 8°C. However, this mildness will be short-lived. The North and North West should prepare for heavy outbreaks of rain, which are set to continue into Thursday.
Changeable Conditions and Gusty Winds Ahead
Looking towards Friday and the weekend, the national forecaster warns of changeable conditions taking hold. Gusty winds are anticipated, particularly in the northern parts of the UK. After temperatures reach around 11°C on Friday, they are expected to plummet back to single digits.
Saturday is predicted to have a notably colder start. The South East may see temperatures around 8°C, while Scotland could drop to a chilly 4°C. These temperatures will fall further overnight, with parts of the Scottish Highlands potentially reaching 0°C. Most of the UK will experience overnight lows between 2°C and 5°C.
Heavy Rain and Wintry Prospects from Sunday
The most significant shift is expected from Sunday, as a period of low pressure moves across the country, bringing widespread heavy rainfall. The Met Office's long-range forecast indicates that some heavy rain or showers are expected, most often in the west, although with a risk some of this could spread to other areas at times.
Temperatures throughout Sunday afternoon are forecast to remain at around 4°C for much of the country, with northern Scotland experiencing even colder conditions. While snow is not expected to be widespread, the forecaster stated it will probably be confined to high ground in the north.
A Met Office spokesperson told The Independent: There's no significant snow in the current forecast period... There's a chance of a bit of sleet over the tops of mountains in Scotland later in the week, but there's no signal of snow to lower levels. The overall outlook for the coming period is for changeable and unsettled conditions to dominate the UK weather map.
