UK weather forecast: Arctic blast to sweep country, bringing sub-zero temperatures

Mild conditions to give way to frost and snow

Icy Arctic air is set to blast the UK this week, bringing sub-zero temperatures and snow.

Although the weather is expected to remain fairly mild for the next few days, the mercury will plummet before the weekend, forecasters warned.

North and west Scotland will have some rain on Tuesday, while there will be strong winds in the northeast and east of England, Met Office spokesman Richard Miles told The Independent.

“There will be rain and drizzle across the west overnight, which will spread across the north tomorrow,” he said.

Fog is also expected on Wednesday, but this is forecast to give way to sunny spells and it will be fairly warm in the east.

“Most places will be quiet and dry,” the forecaster said, although he added that the picture would drastically shift on Friday, when cold air arrives from the north.

“There will be a polar maritime air blast coming down from the Arctic over the weekend,” Mr Miles said. “We’d expect snowfall over all of Scotland.”

Snow is also expected above high ground in the north of England, including the Pennines.

“It will be cold everywhere really, with some quite gusty winds northerly,” he said. “There will be frost on Saturday night into Sunday in sheltered areas.”

Mr Miles said temperatures could plunge as low as -2C.

Sunday could also see some hale and showers down east and western coasts, the forecaster said.