Winter is due to arrive early, with Arctic air bringing sub-zero temperatures and snow to higher ground

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

Officially British Summer Time has almost another fortnight to run but winter is due to arrive early this year with a blast of Arctic air bringing sub-zero temperatures and a dusting of snow to some parts, forecasters said today.

The cold front brought a widespread frost to many parts this weekend. The village of Benson near Wallingford, Oxfordshire, recorded the lowest temperature of -3.5C on Saturday night.

The Met Office forecasts that it will get even colder by the middle of the week as Arctic air moves further south. Cold northerly winds are forecast for Tuesday.

But it is Wednesday that looks set to be the coldest day of the week with wintry showers affecting the northern half of the UK as well as eastern coastal areas. Other parts will be sunny but cold.

Met Office forecaster Robin Downton said: "The main feature this week, particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday, will be that we are going to see air coming southwards all the way from the Arctic. It's going to be distinctly chilly with a chilly wind."

He added: "Across the higher ground there will be a bit of snow, mainly the Pennines and the Scottish mountains.

"We will all feel the chill for a couple of days, with daytime temperatures in the south around 10C, and a couple of degrees colder in the north."

The forecast for the end of week and start of the half-term school holidays is for the unsettled weather to continue, but eventually improve as the wind changes direction.

The Met Office six- to 15-day outlook says: "It will be cold in the northerly airflow with the risk of frost under clear skies but temperatures will recover as the winds become westerly."

Downton said: "After Wednesday it will probably be a little less cold, but there will be some rain on the way."