Brits face an icy blast in parts of the country on New Year's Day, with rain and snow ushering in 2023 on a "wintry" note.
The outlook from now until the end of the year is mild in the south with intermittent showers, while further north is being affected by colder winds.
"It looks like it will be unsettled again across the south, milder here, colder across the north," said BBC weather forecaster Stav Danaos.
"So for New Year’s Day we start off with some sunshine, an area of low pressure moving across Northern Ireland, Wales, northern England and Scotland bringing outbreaks of rain, some snow on the hills as it engages with colder air but much milder further south."
Before that, though, there is heavy rain and flooding in Scotland today where people are also being told to expect snow and ice.
A Met Office amber alert for heavy rain has been issued in parts of Dumfries and Galloway as well as the Scottish Borders and weather warnings for rain, snow and ice have also been issued for other parts of Scotland.
The 'amber' alert warns that "fast flowing or deep floodwater is likely, causing danger to life". Weather forecasters have warned residents to expect around 40-50mm of rain around the area.
A yellow warning for rain is in place in much of the central belt and southern parts of Scotland while yellow warnings for snow and ice are also in place across much of the north of Scotland. Some roads and railways will be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.
There will also be icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, the Met Office says. The amber alert will be in place from midnight on Thursday until 2pm on Friday with yellow alerts in place until 9pm.
Motorists have been warned of potentially difficult driving conditions and delays or cancellations to train and bus services.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued 10 flood alerts and 20 warnings across Scotland including Pollok Country Park in Glasgow. River levels are expected to rise as a result of heavy overnight rainfall, with levels peaking during daylight hours on Friday.
Flooding in and around the police dog compound at Pollok Country Park, The Sawmill at Pollok House, Pollok Estates and Castle Golf Course is possible. Network Rail warned speed restrictions could be in place which will extend journey times as temperatures fall to minus 11C in some areas of the Highlands.
Police Scotland said there is a high risk of disruption and urged people to plan ahead and drive to the conditions if they have to travel. The Scottish Government said the Multi-Agency Response Team will monitor conditions throughout the amber warning period.
Superintendent Stewart Mackie, of Police Scotland's Road Policing Division, said: "An amber weather warning has been issued for heavy rainfall and flooding across southern Scotland, and people should consider delaying any travel plans until conditions improve. If your journey is essential, please plan ahead by making sure you have sufficient fuel and supplies in your vehicle, a charged mobile telephone and always drive as the conditions allow."
It came as the Met Office said the deadly bomb cyclone that sent temperatures plunging in the US is now causing wet and windy weather in the UK.
The warning covers central Scotland, Tayside and Fife, south-west Scotland, Lothian and Borders and Strathclyde. And a yellow warning of rain has been issued for Northern Ireland, valid from midnight on Thursday until 10am on Friday.
A yellow warning of snow and ice covers northern Scotland, apart from Orkney and Shetland, from midnight on Thursday until 9pm on Friday. The Scottish Government said the Transport Scotland Resilience Room will be activated at the National Control Centre to monitor impacts.
Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said: "The UK weather is going to remain unsettled with further spells of wet and windy weather due to the strengthening of the jet stream because of the weather in the US. The effect it's having on the UK is nowhere near as dramatic because that system has brought up a lot of cold air further south, across the US.
"Indeed, the cyclone is only having an effect on the UK due to its impact on the North Atlantic jet stream. What effect (the bomb cyclone) has had is to strengthen the jet stream, because the jet stream is basically driven by temperature differences.
"So the starker the difference in temperature between the northern edge of it and southern edge, the stronger the jet stream becomes." He said the knock-on effect for the UK is spells of wet and windy weather over the next seven to 10 days.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
Rain and strong winds clearing northwards and eastwards, although persisting across far north with risk of snow over northern Highlands. Sunshine and a few showers following from west. Mild, except far north.
Tonight:
Rain and snow gradually clearing from north Scotland. Further cloud and rain spreading north across southern and central Britain, heavy at times, and clearing in south later.
Saturday:
Band of rain and hill snow moving across northern England then Scotland. Meanwhile, further wet and windy spells in southern Britain, rather mild though.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Rain in the north and far south Sunday, wintry over the Highlands. Else bright or sunny spells, though rain into the west Tuesday. Mild in the south, colder further north.
