UK weather forecast: Exact date freezing cold snap to hit as Brits brace for icy conditions after week of rain

BRITS are bracing for icy conditions as a cold snap is set to hit after a week of rain.

Forecasters said the chilly weather will come in the middle of next week, after rain across Britain.

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People are bracing for a week of wind and drizzle before a freezing cold snap[/caption]

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A Sudden Stratospheric Warming above the North Pole has triggered the cold snap[/caption]

Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern told the Mirror: “It looks as though there are some changes on the way from the middle of next week.

“We are seeing a major Sudden Stratospheric Warming taking place above the North Pole.

“What that means is that the winds in the stratosphere surrounding the North Pole are expected to reverse.

“Instead of going from west to east they are going to go from east to west.

“That can have a drag effect on the jet stream which can slow the jet stream down – which can in turn lead to higher pressure at the surface, a blocking area of high pressure, blocking wind and rain from the Atlantic and sometimes also colder conditions.

“That’s why Sudden Stratospheric Warmings increase the chance of cold weather.”

According to the Met Office, the next five days will be windy in the north with some rain, and mild in the south.

The forecast for today is occasional rain across central Scotland, sunny spells and a few showers in the far north with severe gales.

Elsewhere, it will be rather cloudy – bright at times in the east, but drizzly on western hills.

It will be very mild for many but cooler across the far north.

Tonight it will be mainly cloudy with some some patchy rain or drizzle, mostly in the west.

The rain will become heavier across the far north and northwest by the morning.

On Tuesday, there will be persistent rain in the far north and northwest.

After the rain clears slowly, it will be cloudy across the UK with some drizzle on western hills, although it may brighten up in the east.

Wednesday will also be mostly cloudy, with outbreaks of rain and showers spreading southeast.

There will be sunny spells ahead of rain spreading from the northwest on Thursday, before it turns colder from the north on Friday.

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There will be little sunshine anywhere in Britain in the coming weeks[/caption]