Forecasters believe a North-South weather gap is forming, with subzero temperatures expected as winter approaches.
According to the Met Office, Tuesday morning will have a fresh November feel across much of the UK, with northern portions cooler while the south and Midlands remain pleasant under cloud cover.
Motorists should have their ice scrapers ready as overnight temperatures could dip to -2C during the next three days, resulting in a lot of frost on the windscreen for the morning commute.
A sudden decrease in temperature and gusty weather will make most of the UK seem noticeably cooler by the weekend, with temperatures hovering barely over freezing at night in some of the warmer locations down south.
“Mostly fine and widely dry on Wednesday and Thursday, but turning increasingly breezy,” said the Met Office’s forecast for Wednesday to Friday.
“Mild. An uncertain transition to colder conditions with some rain on Friday. Probably remaining breezy.”
The agency’s long-range forecast adds that colder air will “continue to sink south” from Saturday onwards, reaching all areas of the UK by the end of the weekend.
Following speculations, Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Helen Caughey has talked down the prospect of widespread snow this week, saying the chilly shift will likely only see flakes fall over the hills in the far north.
In a new weather blog, she said: “Already there is a lot of media speculation about the prospects for snow later this week and for a white Christmas. Whilst it is too early to give any indications for Christmas, some colder weather is likely for the end of the week, and into the weekend.
“So, what do we know. There is a reasonably strong signal for lower temperatures across the UK by the weekend. But that isn’t guaranteed, and those lower temperatures don’t mean widespread snow.”
“There is a 70 per cent chance that areas as far south as southern England could experience overnight frosts and a general reduction in temperature.”
“However, there is still a 30 per cent chance that the colder conditions won’t get that far south. Any falling snow is likely to be confined to the far northeast, and hills and mountains of Scotland.”