The first snow of late 2019 is set to fall this week as temperatures drop dramatically, according to forecasters.
An Arctic plunge will see -2C nights on the higher mountains of Scotland – and temperatures in the south are not expected to top 13C.
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “It could be cold enough for snow on Tuesday over high ground in Scotland, with a risk of frost in sheltered areas.”
It comes as Britain braces itself for one of Europe's strongest-ever hurricanes to bring 80mph gales and 16ft waves from Thursday.
Six hundred-mile wide Hurricane Lorenzo is forecast to hit the Azores off Portugal with 100mph winds on Tuesday then spin close to Britain by Thursday, the Met Office said.
The Met Office described Lorenzo as a “real beast.” Gusts from around 50mph to over 70mph are possible in the West, government forecasters said.
Lorenzo will be one of the strongest tropical storms ever to affect Europe, the Met Office said, as the Azores – part of Europe – will be hit.
Only one tropical storm has ever made landfall on Europe's mainland at tropical storm strength – Vince in Spain in 2005.
Met Office forecaster Steven Keates said: “Lorenzo is a real beast of a storm. It will be one of Europe's strongest ever tropical storms, as the Azores are part of Europe.
“After reaching the Azores on Tuesday, Lorenzo is expected to move to close to the UK by Thursday – bringing a couple of days with potentially worse conditions than this weekend.
“There are scenarios from gales to storm-force 70mph-plus gusts, but there's uncertainty.
“Big waves and heavy rain are likely, with the West most likely to be affected.
“Before then, five or six inches' rain will fall between Saturday and Tuesday in the wettest places. It's clearly enough for flooding concerns.
“People should keep up-to-date with warnings and consider their travel options.
“The South-West looks wettest, but other parts will see rain, focused on Sunday then Monday night into Tuesday.
“It will be windy across the South and Midlands, with gusts up to 60mph on Sunday and 50mph from Monday night, windiest on the south coast.
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