GETTY•MAGIC SEAWEED Britain is facing gusts of up to 80mph and snow this weekend

The entire country is on alert for harsh frosts with widespread snowfall threatening eight inches in parts of the country. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for snow this weekend with flurries likely widely even to low ground. Thermometers will plunge more than 10C compared to the past week which although stormy has been unusually mild. ** GET THE LATEST FIVE DAY FORECAST IN YOUR AREA ** A colossal swathe of freezing air is poised to sweep down from the North Pole tonight bringing snow and sleet as far south as London. Overnight lows of -3C (27F) are forecast across virtually the whole of the UK sparking warnings to take extra care on the roads on Saturday morning. Salt spreaders are at the ready in parts of the north with the Bishop of Lincoln carrying out the annual blessing of the gritters ahead of severe weather. Forecasters warn this weekend's cold snaps will be up there with some of the coldest November spells on record.

PA Huge areas of Britain could be hit by snow within days

Piers Corbyn, forecaster for WeatherAction, said the freakish weather is partly due to unusually high solar activity strengthening winds flowing in from the Arctic. He said: “This weekend has been on the cards for a while and it is going to be a real shock to the system with widespread sub-zero temperatures and snow likely. “There is certainly a chance that we could see one of the coldest November snaps on record with temperatures possibly dipping below -10C over high ground in Scotland. “An unusually high period of solar activity referred to as R5 is causing these extreme Arctic conditions with blizzards likely over high ground.” Motoring experts warned early Christmas shoppers to delay setting off until later in the day as Britain is plunged into “peak winter” weather. AA spokesman Paul Watters warned drivers to make their cars winter ready and prepare for dangerous conditions on the roads. He said: “It is going to be a complete shock to the system with the relatively mild weather now switching to peak winter. “If roads are wet, which they probably will be, there is a risk of frost and ice in the mornings coming at a time when people are starting to go about Christmas shopping. “Hopefully people will set off later to allow frosts to thaw, the essential thing is to make sure cars are ready for the severe weather.”

GETTY Drivers across the UK are being warned to expect snow and ice this weekend

Forecasters warn snow could fall anywhere this weekend although Scotland and the north are braced to take the brunt of the blast. The good news is the chilly snap is likely to be short-lived with next week seeing a return to milder but stormy weather. Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden said: “We could see low temperatures heading towards double negative figures in parts of Scotland during the early hours of Saturday, and this could produce our coldest temperature of the weekend. “However, it certainly could feel that cold under the wind chill this weekend, there will also be a widespread frost across the country during Saturday evening which could see temperatures dipping as low as -5C in parts of the south. “Anywhere could be at the risk of some heavy and settling snow from Friday through to Sunday, in particular, in some parts of the north and east of the country. “Parts of Southern England could also see some heavy and settling snow during Saturday and into the early part of Sunday at times.”

Government forecasters said temperatures generally will sink to -3C (27F) in the north and close to freezing in the south although bitter winds will make it feel much colder. The Met Office said cold air will begin to sweep in from the northon Friday with snow possible to low levels over the weekend. Spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: “On Friday the cold air will begin to spread southwards with showers falling as snow over high ground in the north and increasingly to lower levels here later. “Overnight Friday and into Saturday other areas of the UK, especially the east, could see some snow showers, with accumulations possible, even to low levels. “By Saturday the cold air will be in place across all parts of the UK with a mixture of sunny spells and sleet or snow showers likely. “In a stark contrast to recent days when temperatures have been well above average for the time of year, we can expect temperatures to be below average with maximum daytime values of around 3C to 7C.”

EPA The first significant snowfall of winter 2015 is on its way

Forecaster Emma Sharples added: “It is going to be a real change with temperatures dropping 10C in places from the 14Cs and 15Cs we have seen this week. “Snow is likely even to parts of the south and to lower levels with accumulations likely with the added risk of strong winds on Friday night." Weather Network forecaster Tiffany Curnick said: “From Friday the Arctic air spreads southwards across the UK, giving a much colder feel than recently. “Even by day temperatures will remain in single figures with widespread overnight frosts. Outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow at times with sleet and snow likely at lower levels.” Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel UK, said the mercury will sink to -10C (14F) in exposed parts this weekend. He warned wintry showers will dump several centimetres of snow before another bout of gales whips up next week. He said: “This weekend will feel bitter in fresh and gusty northerly winds, and strong winds along the east coast. “Temperatures will reach only 3C (37F) to 4C (39F) over central Britain and 5C (41F) to 6C (43F) in the south, but wind chill temperatures will feel more like minus 2C (28F) to minus 4C (25F).

Today marks the first day of Autumn Tue, September 22, 2015 September 22nd 2016 marks the 1st day of Autumn in Great Britain. Play slideshow PA 1 of 73 Autumn weather Sept 20th 2016