Forecasters say we could be in for an arctic blast of cold air, and potentially some snow as winter hits.
Temperatures are starting to fall and a weather pattern developing over Scandinavia could bring in much cooler air from the north from Monday, say forecasters.
Met Office forecasters say mist and fog will be slow to clear across the north west today (Thursday) although it will remain largely dry and cold, with temperatures struggling to top 7C.
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Thanks to clear skies, temperatures will fall to 1C tonight with some patchy frost. But over the weekend it will be colder thanks to a 'brisk easterly wind', according to the Met Office.
The clouds start to roll in on Sunday which will bring showers which will be 'turning wintry over hills'.
The pattern continues on Monday. The long-range Met Office forecast for the UK says these showers will be heaviest in the east the south of the country, and that it will feel wintry particular over the hills.
Meanwhile in the north west it will be drier and we can look forward to some sunny spells.
The Met Office says: "Continuing through the week, occasional showers are expected, these heaviest and most frequent along eastern coasts with a chance of longer spells of rain for southern UK.
"Showers may become wintry over higher ground, with a further risk of sleet over lower levels at times. A cold northerly flow is likely to develop, drawing temperatures below average and feeling even colder at times, particularly during fresh winds.
"This may bring some wintry weather, with an increased risk of overnight frost and perhaps snow showers, not confined to higher ground."
The Oldham Weather Blog is more specific: "Very little change for the next couple of days but after that does look interesting as there’s the potential for high pressure to build towards Greenland and low pressure over Scandinavia which will allow for a cold northerly airflow to develop, straight from the Arctic.
"Nothing extremely cold but cold enough for a few snow showers, even to lower-levels. Temperatures look set to remain below-average with the risk of wintry showers increasing. The second week of December could see a battlefield developing. Will milder air push in from the south-west or could it turn much colder from the east? Not exactly what we need with energy prices! Watch this space."
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