BRITAIN has been struck by the first snow of the year as an Arctic blast sends temperatures plummeting.
That is despite summer not even officially being over yet.
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Autumn begins in the UK on September 22 but there has been a bite in the air this week and plenty of rain.
The mercury has, however, reached highs of around 20C for some.
Heat and rain came together for a major storm over the weekend, with thunderstorms seeing several inches of rain fall.
The Met Office has warned snow has already hit in parts of Scotland today amid the cold snap, and more is expected before things warm up again over the weekend.
Spokesperson Andrea Bishop told The Sun: “A cold front is bringing Arctic air to the UK, resulting in below average temperatures nationwide this week.
“There is some snow on the very tops of the highest peaks in Scotland, but we’re talking above around 800 meters.”
She went on to clarify: “There is already snow on some of the highest peaks in Scotland so it’s there, although would melt if we see the return of warmer weather at the weekend.”
Temperatures in Scotland will plummet to freezing and below before the end of the week, reports The Mirror.
Today is set to see the mercury hit zero and by tomorrow -2C.
Ms Bishop said that temperatures will, however, return to around average through the weekend.
Today got off to a crisp sunny start for many in the UK, though temperatures only reached as high as 7C during the morning commute.
As midday approaches, the mercury is likely to hit 14C in the south.
In a post on X – formerly called Twitter – the Met Office said: “There will be some blustery showers to watch out for, mostly in the west and north.”
It comes after meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said yesterday: “The cold we’re experiencing is actually going to be fairly short-lived as it is set to turn milder as we move into the weekend and next week as well, as we will see some shifts to our jet stream.
“At the moment, it’s amplified up to the north and west of the UK, diving down, so we’re on the colder side of the jet stream the rest of this week.
“We’ve got quite an active part of the jet stream as well, that’s bringing a few showers.
“But as we head towards the weekend we move onto the warmer side of the jet stream, and high pressure will start to build in from the south and west.
“That will turn things a little bit calmer and warmer by the weekend.”
However, Ms Shuttleworth said there will be more wet weather for some this weekend “and for the time being it still will be quite cold”, which she confirmed was due to the Arctic air.
MET OFFICE FIVE-DAY FORECAST
Today
It will be another chilly and rather breezy day, with sunny spells and scattered showers.
Showers most frequent across the north and west with hail and thunder possible in the south this afternoon. Showers easing from the southwest later.
Tonight
Showers lingering across northern and eastern coasts overnight.
Dry with light winds and clear spells elsewhere leading to a cold night with patchy mist and frost forming.
Friday
After a chilly start it will be a mostly dry day with plenty of sunny spells. Feeling a little warmer than previous days. Rain arriving in the northwest later.
Saturday to Monday
Dry for much of England and Wales through this period, with sunny spells.
Cloudier for Northern Ireland, Scotland and northwest England, with outbreaks of rain.
Temperatures returning nearer to average.
