The Met Office has confirmed that the first wintry showers of the season could arrive in the UK this week, with colder air expected to sweep southward and temperatures plunging below average by Friday (13 November).
After a chilly and foggy start to the week, which prompted yellow weather warnings across central England and Wales, conditions are set to change sharply from mid-week onwards.
Snow forecast for northern Scotland
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said: "Snow showers could briefly fall on lower ground in northern Scotland and the Northern Isles, mainly Shetland, overnight on Wednesday (11 November) and into Thursday (12 November). However, snow may only settle on higher ground and this is relatively normal for the time of year."
Snow can typically fall in the far northeast from late October through May, meaning the brief flurries align with seasonal expectations.
Colder air spreads south
While rain moves across southern parts of England and Wales through Tuesday and Wednesday, a cold front will begin pushing down from the north.
On Wednesday, colder air moves into northern regions, bringing showers that turn increasingly wintry in the far north and northeast alongside strong winds. By Thursday and Friday, colder air will spread further south across the entire UK.
Most places will experience dry, clear, or sunny spells, though occasional showers will remain possible in northern and eastern areas, bringing further wintry spells over high ground in Scotland.
Frosts and weekend outlook
Nighttime temperatures will drop significantly, leading to increasingly widespread and heavy frosts towards the end of the week. Rural areas of Scotland could see the mercury plummet, while parts of Yorkshire and the south face biting morning chills.
The cold snap is expected to shift heading into the weekend as high pressure moves away towards continental Europe. Atlantic weather systems will likely push in from the North Atlantic later in the weekend, bringing more changeable, wetter, and windier conditions while returning temperatures closer to the seasonal average.
