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Scotland

Temperatures through much of today have been fairly mild at 10-11C but as we progress through this evening you’ll notice winds picking up from a northerly direction and with that wind, comes a drop in temperature, setting the stage for the next 48 hours.

Skies may turn a little duller through the late afternoon as those N,NE winds transport showers down, these will initially fall as rain but as the cold air begins to establish itself, kicking out the milder air, you may find those showers turning sleety at low levels, readily to snow above 1,000ft. The best chance at seeing snow showers will be in the east and over hills. Always staying that bit drier and brighter further west and where there is shelter from the wind.

Through tonight and the tempearture steadily falls. Everywhere should see plenty of clear skies and lows falling to around freezing for all. Despite a 5-10 mph wind blowing, -2C is possible in the main Glasgow to Edinburgh corridor and when factoring in wind chill, it will feel very cold indeed. Be sure to wrap up warm. Please be aware of developing ice patches tonight on roads and pavements anywhere across the country.

Into tomorrow and following a cold, frosty and blustery start, the flow of air coming straight down from the arctic will mean that daytime highs struggle despite sunshine. Most will struggle to a mere 4, perhaps 5C at best in the Central Belt with only 1-3C over the Highlands with snow showers possible. These showers may push down the eastern side of the country where they may dust the hills, even low levels. I expect areas further west to be drier and sunnier. Feeling colder when factoring in the wind chill.

Tomorrow night and after a cold day, the atmosphere will work off that cold beneath the clear, starry skies and this will help drop temperatures to lower levels than tonight. We could see -3 or lower even with a breeze blowing out of the north, northeast but if winds lighten up, then -6C even in the Central Belt is possible. If winds are light in the Highlands or Southern Uplands, we could see lows drop to near -10C by Saturday morning.

Wind will be the factor as it how cold Friday night into Saturday will be and I believe near record cold is on the table.

Saturday will be coldest with highs even in the Central Belt possibly struggling to a mere 4C with a slow recovery to freezing for most by mid to late morning. For the Highlands, some may fail to hit 0C.

England

Today will be a day of two halves for the North as it starts off cloudy, damp and mild and ends brighter but much colder with an increasing northeast wind, further south and the dull, damp, mild theme continues well into the night and from Birmingham south, it will last into tomorrow morning. From Carlisle south, clouds will clear and head south as the northeast wind picks up but make sure and grab your coast as it’s going to get distinctly chilly, the southward process of clouds clearing, winds picking up and temperatures dropping should reach Macnhester around midnight, so the chance of a frost extends towards the North Midlands by dawn Friday.

Icy patches may develop as well as frost as winds grow colder through the night. By morning the temperature will be down to 0C in Carlisle, and only 1 or 2C in Newcastle, York and Manchester, showers could be wintry along the North Sea Coast and over the Pennines but it should be drier and clearer to the west. Snow showers are very possible even to sea level into tomorrow morning as the atmosphere continues to cool as this new air masses establishes itself over the next 12-18 hours. The greatest chance of snow showers will be from the Pennines to North Sea Coast tomorrow all these may extend all the way down to the Humber. Even when steeping out the door in the morning, you will notice the change and factor air temperature with a wind and it’s going to feel sub zero for sure, especially if your right on the coast or in exposed areas.

Highs will be a struggle at only 5C in Newcastle, 6 or 7C in York, Manchester and as tomorrow progresses, so the temperatures drops for Birmingham and London. Tonight will be another mild one and the warmest part of Friday will be the early to mid morning hours. From noon onwards expect lowering tempeartures and winds to increase. Winds blowing out of the NE at 5-10 mph will make it feel like only between 2-5C from Carlisle to Manchester.

Tomorrow night and most should see clear skies. Combine the cold daytime temperatures and clear skies at night and you’ve the perfect recipe for a December-like night with a widespread frost. Parts of the North may see quite a penetrating frost for October standards with some sheltered areas possibly dropping to -5 or -6C.

Saturday will be the coldest for all with highs England-wide ranging between a wintry 3 or 4C in parts of the North to a mere 5 or 6C even across the South.

Wales

We’re in the final hours of the persistently mild, grey, gloomy regime and a big change is on the horizon tonight, starting off in the north and will work south through the overnight. The whole country will start to night in the same old note with a lot of cloud, drizzle, mist and murk with temperatures starting out at 8-11C but during the overnight, skies clear from the north as a stiffening northeast wind kicks out this mild air mass and replaces it with a cold, arctic air mass. By morning, it will be cold for most with lows dipping to 3 or 4C in the north, 6 to 8C in the south but factor in the wind and shave 3-5C off those numbers. Through the day Friday, skies will become clear, brighter with highs struggling to hit 10C everywhere but the wind will make it feel winter-like out there.

Tomorrow night and after a colder day, clear skies heralds the coldest night so far with a widespread frost and lows dipping to 0C or lower. Some sheltered spots tucked away within the Brecon Beacons may see -4 to -5C.

Northern Ireland

Today’s been a largely fine, dry and bright day with still fairly mild and average temperatures of 11 to 12C but come this evening and you’ll notice the change in the air with a freshening northeast wind and falling temperatures, especially after dark. Many inland areas will see lows drop to near freezing and with a breeze, the wind chill will be cold at between -2 to -6C, perhaps feeling even colder than that along the Antrim coast down to Larne where winds are stronger.

Following a frosty start, Friday will be a beautiful autumn day but cold everywhere with highs everywhere struggling to 6 or 7C, factor in that NE wind and it feels colder still. This sets the stage for a cold night to come beneath clear skies and if winds are fairly light, we may see some spots hit -5 or -6C with a fairly penetrative frost. Watch for icy patches too.

Ireland

After another grey, gloomy but mild day throughout much of Ireland, skies will clear out tonight and so it will be colder with a chance of frost, particularly across the north and east. Tomorrow will be brighter, drier with plenty of autumn sunshine, however it will be much cooler than of late with highs for most struggling to reach 10C, factor in a brisk northeast wind and it will feel even colder.

Friday night into Saturday will be coldest of autumn so far with clear skies, lightening winds and lows falling to near or below freezing for most. A widespread frost will greet much of the country Saturday morning.