Met Office weather forecasters have issued their verdict on when the UK can expect snowfall this month.
A wintry vortex from mainland Europe will drop Britons into sub-zero conditions in a matter of days and cause a lasting cold spell.
Meteorologists from several agencies expect the front will primarily bring outbreaks of rain, which will fall in showers for the next week.
But they have also pinpointed the first few snowflakes of winter 2023/2024, which will arrive in patches over the coldest areas.
According to the Met Office, the first few snowflakes will descend over the UK in a few hours – but will predominantly hit the Highlands at first.
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The agency has predicted the cold snap will bring snow today, Monday, November 27, following a damp start to the week.
Rainfall will turn to wintry showers with the possibility of snow over Scotland and northern England. Otherwise, south eastern areas with milder temperatures are likely to see downpours.
The forecast for November 27 states that bands of rain will pelt Wales and southwest England in the morning, clearing southwards.
Brighter skies will follow from the north later in the day, while the northeast and Scotland will see “showers and hill snow”.
A cold weather alert has been in place for four big regions in the UK over the weekend, and there’s a strong chance of it being extended into this week.
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The forecast adds that the areas hit by snow today will also be windy but does not warn of any potential snow storms.
Maps show temperatures dropping to 0C on Monday and -3C over the rest of the week, with the mercury reaching its coldest in Scotland, where lows could plummet to -4C on Wednesday.
As the forecast grows colder, it could also grow snowier, according to Dan Harris, a Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office.
Last week, the forecaster released a detailed forecast predicting the coming cold spell and a “more active weather system” arriving from the southwest that could prompt “significant” snowfall.
Mr Harris said: “There is a chance that a more active weather system arrives from the southwest, which would bring more widespread rain, stronger winds, and the potential for more significant snowfall should the air over the UK become sufficiently cold ahead of it.
“Either way, a continuation of colder than average conditions seems most likely, more details will become clear over the coming days and, as you would expect, we will be monitoring developments in the forecast closely.”
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