UK temperatures are predicted to take a nosedive later this month, with several areas expected to experience sub-zero conditions, according to weather maps.
WXCharts' forecast data indicates that the mercury will fall into single digits across the British Isles on Wednesday, October 27. Maps displaying minimum temperatures at midnight UTC (1am BST) suggest that major cities in the southern half of England will see temperatures dip to between 4 and 9C.
In Wales, the thermometer could drop as low as 3C, with the highest reading being 9C along parts of the northwestern coast. However, in northern England, temperatures could plummet to 2C in areas including parts of Lancashire. Scotland is set to bear the brunt of the cold snap around this time, with earlier maps suggesting temperatures could fall to -2C.
The most recent maps indicate -1C temperatures concentrated in the upper half of the country, reports the Express.
Several counties in Scotland could experience temperatures between 0C and -1C from 1am to 1pm, according to the maps. These include: the Highlands, Moray, Perth and Kinross, Sterling, Argyll and Bute, western Angus, Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, South Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders, West Lothian, City of Edinburgh, Midlothian, and East Lothian, extending down towards northern parts of Cumbria and Northumberland in the far north of England.
Meanwhile, the lowest temperatures in Northern Ireland are expected to range between 2 and 5C during this period.
The Met Office's long-range forecast, covering Monday October 20 to Wednesday, October 29, predicts a "rather unsettled pattern is likely through much of this period, as low pressure systems originating over the North Atlantic trundle east or northeastwards across the UK".
"These will bring showers or longer spells of rain, perhaps accompanied by some strong winds at times, but also interspersed with some drier and brighter interludes, albeit these generally of shorter duration than the recent settled spell," it continues.
"Later in the period, there may be a transition to a slightly cooler and more showery northwesterly regime, as high pressure builds over the Atlantic to the west, and low pressure becomes centred to the east of the UK.
"Temperatures are likely to be near or slightly above average overall, although may trend slightly below normal later."
Meanwhile, tonight's forecast suggests that many parts of the UK will remain cloudy.
"Mostly dry, but there will be some patchy light rain or drizzle possible across the south and east at times," the Met Office adds. "Some clear spells developing, allowing it to turn rather chilly in places."
Thursday's weather is expected to be cloudy "with some outbreaks of drizzle here and there, more especially across the south and east".
"An increasing chance of showers across northeast Scotland. Some brighter spells developing in places."