Britain braced for first snowfall of winter with temperatures set to plummet to lows of -2C by the weekend

BONFIRE night celebrations will have a frosty chill as parts of Britain brace for snow and cold winds.

The temperature is forecast to plummet after a warm autumn as winter arrives with lows of -2C.

In the days leading up to the fireworks-filled weekend the temperature will stay at about 10C for much of the country.

But by the weekend a blast of cold air will have shaken off the mild temperatures.

November looks like it will be cold and frosty, with chilly gales, hail, thunder and snow over high ground threatening to arrive for Guy Fawkes celebrations.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: "Showers this weekend will be thundery with hail and there is the chance of snow over high ground in Scotland, northern Britain and parts of Wales.

“It is also going to be windy in paces with the possibility of gales around the east coast with overnight frosts.

“The cold is going to last into the middle of next week on current indications as we stay in this northerly flow.

“In terms of temperatures there is the possibility of -1C or -2C overnight in parts art the weekend with highs of 13C elsewhere.”

Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis said winds “direct from the Arctic” will sweep Britain this weekend.

He said: “The weekend will see a mixture of sunny spells and blustery showers driven in by a strong and cold northerly or northeasterly wind.

“Showers will be most frequent and heaviest near northern and eastern coastal areas exposed to the wind but getting inland too, accompanied by hail and also wintry in nature over northern hills.

“Temperatures widely staying in single figures during the day, with frost forming overnight where skies clear.

“Winds will turn northerly direct from the Arctic over the weekend and so it will turn even colder.”

Exacta Weather’s James Madden said this month is likely to bring the first “notable” snowfall of the year.

He said: “Things are about to turn much colder from the north and later to other parts of the country paving the way for a quite cold and much more traditional November period.

“This will bring an increase in the snow risk across the country among some periods of unsettled weather, parts of the north will see some significant snow across higher ground and there will also be some wintry showers developing to some lower levels at times.

“The first of these notable wintry blasts and potentially widespread snow showers will occur during the early part of November and there will also be ample amounts of fog and frost for many within this period.”

The Met Office’s 30-day outlook warning to expect below-average temperatures and harsh frosts during the coming weeks.

It states: “It looks likely that we'll see a continuation of winds from a broadly northerly direction, particularly in mid November, bringing colder than usual temperatures, with potential for widespread frosts at times.

“It will likely be a mixed period of weather, with periods of unsettled, breezy weather, bringing rain or showers, and perhaps snow over higher ground in the north.

“This will likely be interspersed with periods of drier and more settled conditions with local mist and fog patches.”

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