CATERS Britain is bracing for snow this weekend after freezing hail this week in Birmingham

Freak hailstorms left Birmingham under a carpet of white this week as forecasters warn autumn is about to turn nasty. Plunging thermometers will push the mercury close to -5C (23F) overnight on Saturday with the risk of frosts on Sunday morning. Forecasters are not ruling out a flurry of snow over high ground as a swathe of bitter air floods in from the Arctic. As shivering Britons reach for their winter coats bookies are also hedging their bets on the first flakes of the year arriving early. It comes after a stormy end to summer saw Britain lashed by gales and torrential downpours while mammoth ‘supertides’ threatened coastal regions. The bonkers weather, being blamed on a powerful jet stream, will now take another freak turn sparking warnings to get ready for winter.

NTI Snow fell in Birmingham yesterday

NTI Snow and hail fell yesterday in parts of the Midlands

Piers Corbyn, director of WeatherAction, said things will take a bitter turn from Saturday especially in Scotland. He said: “There is a chance we could see the first wintry showers of the season between Saturday and Monday. “Of course it is the high ground of Scotland which is usually the first to be at risk, but things are turning very cold widely over the coming days. “Temperatures could nudge freezing in parts with northerly winds coming in from the Arctic.” He said the continued erratic nature of the jet stream, which triggered intense fluctuations through summer, is again to blame. “The jet stream is still widely deviating and allowing cold air to flood in,” he added. “This weekend could well bring a very early taste of winter.”

GETTY Snow could officially end Britain's summer this weekend

Temperatures will widely sink a few degrees below average in the coming days with highs of just 15C (59F) expected widely. Rural areas can expect overnight lows of around 2C with bitter winds making it feel like -4.5C (24F) further north, according to Netweather. Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel UK, said: “It is looking rather cool for the rest of the week with temperatures 2 to 4C below normal. “A chilly night this Saturday to Sunday with ground frosts probable, and we could see an air frost in some frost hollows under clear skies early Sunday. “It looks like rain may reach north-west Britain late next week as pressure falls to our west.” As the weather turns colder bookies are starting to think of winter slashing to odds on snow this weekend. Ladbrokes is offering 5/1 from 20/1 on a flurry anywhere in the UK before midnight on Sunday.

There is a chance we could see the first wintry showers of the season between Saturday and Monday Piers Corbyn, director of WeatherAction

Spokeswoman Jessica Bridge said: "August was atrocious and the odds suggest September's going to be even worse. “It looks like Blighty can officially swap sunglasses for scarves as winter's coming early this year.” Weather Network forecaster Richard Chapman said much of the country can expect rain over the weekend.

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He said: “Watch for further showers as we head into the weekend, perhaps with some longer spells rain at times in the east. “It is remaining cool too, however, the good news is that higher pressure to the west builds and builds through Saturday and Sunday meaning the majority of the country, again apart from the unlucky east, should be dry. “Northerly wind combined with shortening days and clear skies during the night away from eastern coasts and hills will bring the threat of a ground frost to more sheltered areas.”

GETTY The British summer could be well and truly over