Brits are set for a freezing start to Friday, with it dipping to -1C in places, while there is a warning of thundery showers before it brightens up for a sunny day.
Following the warm weather at the end of October, it has been a very wet start to this month - with a half month’s worth of rain already having fallen in some south eastern areas.
Flood alerts are in force and the Met Office has a yellow warning for thunderstorms along the south coast which is running from 8pm on Thursday until 6am on Friday.
It states: “Heavy showers and thunderstorms likely to bring some disruption.”
People are advised: “There is a good chance driving conditions will be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus.
"Some flooding of a few homes and businesses likely, leading to some damage to buildings or structures. Probably some damage to a few buildings and structures from lightning strikes. Delays to train services are possible.
"Some short term loss of power and other services is likely."
After the heavy rain, though, it looks as though the sun will finally come out - even if only for a short period of time with Storm Martin hitting the country over the weekend.
BBC weather forecaster Helen Willetts said: "It’s a cold start this morning, a touch of frost across northern areas, grass frost in the south and even a little bit of fog because the winds are falling lighter here.
"So what is left of that showery rain scoots away very quickly. We have got a weak weather front introducing showers in the north west, some patchy fog to clear away possibly through the central belt, one or two patches elsewhere.
"Otherwise it does look like the driest and brightest day of the week with some good spells of sunshine coming through and lighter winds, 10C to 14C is just about the average for this time of the year.
“But that window of drier weather doesn’t last, we’ve got behind me gathering some more rain and that moves in through Friday night and Saturday, some quite heavy bursts of rain for a time and then it slows progress down as it reaches southern and eastern areas.
"Brighter skies following certainly with one or two showers, 11C to 14C on a par with Friday but that weather front could become slow moving once again across southern and eastern areas, the ground saturated with weather warnings in force."
It is a mixed outlook for Bonfire night on Saturday: "So it could be that we have quite a lot of cloud in eastern areas, showers and blustery winds elsewhere but some clear spells around as well," said Ms Willetts.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
Most places fine and dry with some morning mist and fog patches. A few showers in the north and west, and also across the far southeast at first.
Tonight:
A few showers affecting western coasts, then thicker cloud and rain into the west later. Dry with clear spells in the east with patchy frost, mist or fog.
Saturday:
Band of rain and strong wind sweeping east across the UK. Clearing Northern Ireland during the morning and most other areas during the afternoon, though probably persisting across the southeast.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Rather windy with spells of rain and showers interspersed with briefer, drier, sunny or clear spells. Occasional coastal gales in the west. Temperatures around average to rather mild, locally mild.
