POLAR PLUNGE
UK weather: Weekend snow mapped by Met Office as Arctic freeze and chilly gales to strike in just DAYS – check your area
Read the full Met Office forecast for this weekend below
THE Met Office has mapped a flurry of weekend snow - as it forecasts an Arctic freeze and chilly gales in just days.
Wind, rain and hill snow are expected on Sunday ahead of a cold snap next week.
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A band of wintry showers will soak coastal parts and much of the north.
Some light snow is likely to fall, especially in the north - while inland areas stay dry with long spells of winter sun.
Wider patches of rain and hill snow could dust southern parts, but "disruptive snowfall" is unlikely.
Met Office forecaster Alex Deakins said: "It is only really across Scotland.
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"Obviously, it wouldn't take much of a swing and for that air to be a bit colder for snow to be seen at lower levels.
"But at this stage it is looks like it is just going to be snow on the hills in Scotland."
He added: "Cold air will be flooding its way south over Saturday night.
"By the time we get to the early hours of Sunday morning, much of Scotland will be covered in freezing levels where ground is only at 400m."
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It will be cold everywhere with an overnight frost and a punishing wind chill.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mark Sidaway said: “The high pressure that has been responsible for the mainly dry weather through much of this week will retrogress into the Atlantic as we get towards the weekend.
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"This will gradually introduce more unsettled weather, initially in the north from Friday but more widely from Sunday.
“In addition to this increased rainfall, which could be heavy at times on Sunday, temperatures will also drop, especially for those in Scotland, as a northerly airflow develops, bringing colder Arctic air to some northern areas.
“This shift does introduce the possibility of snow, initially over high ground in the north from Sunday, with gusty winds also a potential hazard.
"There is a lot of uncertainty by Sunday, but there remain a number of scenarios which could bring some more widespread rain, along with some hill snow and stronger winds.
"Warnings for winter hazards are possible later in the weekend, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest forecast.”
There is a chance it may warm up a little towards the end of next week.
Meanwhile, today will have a grey start for many with some fog patches and a little drizzle in places.
It will be grey across the north west but there will be some bright and sunny spells elsewhere.
The mercury will hover a little above average for this time of year, with some gentle winds.
Tonight will be cloudy with hill fog, patchy drizzle and blustery winds across a swathe of the north.
The rest of the UK will see a mix of clear spells, patchy fog and a light winter frost.
Tomorrow will be mostly dry with sunshine across central and southern England, south Wales and eastern Scotland.
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It will be cloudier elsewhere with hill fog and drizzle - and some windy and heavy rain in parts of the north.
There are no weather warnings or flood warnings in force at the moment.
Met Office weekend forecast in full
Today
A grey start for many with some fog patches and a little drizzle in places.
Remaining grey across many northwestern areas.
However, some bright or sunny spells developing elsewhere.
Gentle winds, with temperatures around or a little above average.
Tonight
Cloudy with hill fog and patchy drizzle across many northern areas, where increasingly breezy.
Clear spells eastern Scotland, central and southern England and Wales, with patchy fog and frost.
Friday
Mostly dry with sunshine across central and southern England, south Wales and eastern Scotland.
Cloudier elsewhere with hill fog and drizzle.
Heavier rain in far northwest later.
Windy in north.
Saturday to Monday
Rain moving south across England and Wales Saturday.
Brighter, colder with blustery showers elsewhere.
Wind, rain and hill snow Sunday.
Widely colder with sunshine and showers, some wintry, on Monday.
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