Britons should brace themselves for a cold snap as Scandinavian “cold easterly winds” are set to bring plunging temperatures and freezing fog.
The mercury is set to drop to below freezing, with people in the Midlands and Wales set to wake up to a bitterly cold -2C on Thursday morning thanks to an incoming high-pressure system.
The frosty spell marks a stark contrast from the balmy weather that ended last week, with Sunday being named as one of the sunniest on record.
A chilly breeze will make temperatures seem even colder, as the mercury dips below average for early February.
Temperatures are set to dip below freezing
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The Met Office has said that “cold weather is on the horizon” while looking ahead to the weekend.
It said: "A sunny Thursday for many but isolated freezing fog patches may linger locally. Most places staying dry on Friday and Saturday albeit generally cloudier. Turning colder with widespread overnight frosts."
Frank Saunders, Met Office Chief Meteorologist, said: “It’s worth being aware that despite a largely pleasant week ahead, there’s a good chance the UK will experience a dip in temperatures at the weekend and into next week.
“High-pressure is set to move in, bringing along with it easterly winds, low temperatures and an increasing risk of wintry hazards like snow and ice. We’ll know more as the week goes on so it’s worth keeping up-to-date with the forecast in your area.”
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The Met Office said there could be freezing fog patches
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The UK's national weather service said that the high pressure - originating from Scandinavia with its easterly winds - will “bring cold air from the continent into the UK”.
Jo Farrow, forecaster at Netweather, said that damp air and cloud will spread overnight on Thursday.
She added that “winter flurries” in southern and eastern Britain are also a possibility towards the end of the week.
However, Aidan McGivern, from the Met Office said that this week’s frosty spell will not be a return of the Beast from the East - a storm in February 2018 that brought usually low temperatures and heavy snowfall to Britain.
McGivern said: “Easterly winds at this time of the year are always going to be cold.”
A chilly breeze will make temperatures seem even colder
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Delivering its forecast for this week, the Met Office said: “High pressure will bring dry and settled conditions on Thursday. Frost and any fog will lift to leave a mostly sunny day. Patchy cloud developing in the south. Turning breezy more widely."
On Friday: "High pressure will move away to the northeast of the UK. This will allow a cold east to southeasterly wind to develop, introducing more cloud and some showers, perhaps wintry."
Frank Saunders, Met Office Chief Meteorologist, added: “It’s worth being aware that despite a largely pleasant week ahead, there’s a good chance the UK will experience a dip in temperatures at the weekend and into next week.
"High-pressure is set to move in, bringing along with it easterly winds, low temperatures and an increasing risk of wintry hazards like snow and ice."
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