The UK could be set for the first snow of the season today as forecasters predict plunging temperatures and wintry showers.
Snow could fall on high ground in the west of Britain, with the Scottish mountains expected to see several centimetres by the end of the weekend, according to MeteoGroup.
Hail and sleet is forecast in other areas across the country, including London and the south east, as chill winds bring daytime temperatures down to just above freezing and plunge them into the blue overnight.
Snowfall is expected to stretch as far south as Bodmin and Dartmoor.
Forecaster Calum MacColl said: “The first snow of the season arrived on Snowdonia and the Lake District last month but parts of the North-West, around the Pennines, and even as far south as the Tors in the South-West could see their first snow on Sunday.
“Friday will be cold and breezy with some wintry showers in Scotland. Rain in the North-West on Saturday will move South-East, making conditions more wintry again on Sunday.”
Rain showers are expected to move south east across the rest of the UK today, and are likely to linger in the south east until after dark, MeteoGroup said.
Rachel Vince, senior forecaster at MeteoGroup, said: "Scotland and Northern Ireland will see a mixture of sunshine and showers.
"These showers do look like becoming hail and sleet showers in places, with snow in the mountains."
Temperatures will reach a high of 9C (48F) in the south west but are likely to average between 3C and 6C (37F to 43F) across the country. Tonight will be clear and frosty with temperatures as low as -3C (27F) across the Home Counties.
