An icy blast from the Arctic is set to cause a sharp drop in temperatures across the UK over the next week, according to weather forecasters.
The mercury is expected to plunge by up to 9 degrees Celsius, around 40%, by Wednesday, September 24, as a bitter low-pressure system moves southward. The Met Office has confirmed the impending cold spell following unseasonably warm highs of 22 degrees Celsius recorded in Hull and Rostherne, Cheshire, earlier this week.
Forecasts indicate that on Wednesday afternoon, temperatures will reach 13 degrees Celsius in Hull, with even colder conditions elsewhere: 10 degrees Celsius in Derbyshire, 11 degrees Celsius in Northamptonshire, and parts of Scotland bracing for 8 degrees Celsius.
Meteorologist Jo Farrow from NetWeather explains that colder air will sweep in from the Arctic across the UK, replacing the warmer air of the past week. The weather pattern will see high pressure moving towards Scandinavia, dragging colder air into Northeast Europe. However, milder air will flow in from the Atlantic to the northwest of Scotland.
While southern Britain has been enjoying temperatures in the high teens to low 20s this week, the upcoming weekend and following week will see the UK under the influence of a colder air mass, possibly leading to the first frosts in the north, morning fog for commuters, and a distinct autumn chill if the winds pick up.
Weather maps for the UK next week show predominantly green hues, signaling cold and windy conditions in various areas. The Met Office has issued warnings for an unsettled weekend and the likelihood of frequent fog and frost during the week.
Despite the impending cold snap, minimal rainfall is expected in the days ahead. Today is forecast to be dry, particularly in the east, while Friday is expected to remain dry in southern counties, including Greater London and its surroundings.
Significant rainfall has been reported this week, with over 40mm falling in rural north Wales in just a few hours on Wednesday, raising concerns of potential flooding in saturated areas like Cumbria in the Northwest of England.