London is expected to see its first frost of the season this weekend - when it is tipped temperatures could drop below zero.
Saturday is expected to be the coldest night since summer across the country with the first sub-zero temperatures, including lows of -5C in parts of England.The Met Office forecasts temperatures will drop as low as 2C in the capital on Friday and Saturday, rising no higher than 6C across the weekend.
Saturday is due to be bright and sunny, making way for a grey day on Sunday with rain due in the evening.
Meanwhile, BBC Weather predicts the temperature will drop as low as zero in London overnight on Friday, and could plummet to -1C on Saturday.
This weekend's cold spell could bring sleet and snow to the north of Scotland and on peaks above 400 metres (1,312ft) high, the Met Office said.
Meteorologists believe that night will see thermometers hitting minus 4C in Wales and minus 5C in the rural South West.
Daytime temperatures are not expected to reach double digits during the day on Saturday but will be returning to above 10C by Sunday and into the following week.
A Met Office spokesman said the cold and variable weather is to be expected at this time of year, though the UK has historically had the first frosts in October.
He said: “We can see there’s big swings in temperatures, all it takes is a quick change from a southern wind into a north wind to have that change.
“It’s not unusual to see these changes.”
First frost of autumn likely in next days, later than average. Years where first frost occurred in last week of Nov include 1961, 1963, 1964, 1978, 1982 and 1989. Five of six saw a cold spell and some snow before Christmas. One, 1989, ridiculous warmth. https://t.co/JlQoLdr15F
— Wanstead weather (@wanstead_meteo) November 23, 2023
According to local weather station Wanstead Weather, this year's first frost of the autumn - set to come amid this weekend's cold snap - is later than usual.
"Years where first frost occurred in last week of Nov include 1961, 1963, 1964, 1978, 1982 and 1989," it said on X, formerly Twitter.
"Five of six saw a cold spell and some snow before Christmas. One, 1989, ridiculous warmth."
A yellow warning has been posted for the Shetland archipelago, where gusts could reach 60mph between 10pm and 6am over the next 24 hours.
The north of the archipelago is forecast to face the coldest temperatures in the country.
“Nagging winds” are hitting the north-east of the UK and are forecasted to whip up high waves and pose challenges to lorries over the weekend.
The strong winds are affecting the east of the country down to Norfolk but are calmer in more southernly regions.
