Snow maps show icy Arctic blast sweep Britain as 0C freeze hits - see where and when

An Arctic blast looks set to sweep across Britain with the mercury plunging as low as 0C, weather maps show. Parts of northern Britain may see temperatures struggle above freezing at 6am on October 21, with single digits across most of the country, according to maps generated using Met Desk data by WX Charts today (October 6).

If the maps are correct this far ahead, then Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the North of England and part of the Midlands will be in the grip of an icy blast overnight on October 22, WX Charts' maps show. While they show temperatures below freezing, the maps also show it could be a rainy night for many, with the South West, Wales, Midlands and north eastern coasts seeing a few millimetres.

Snow looks likely to fall on higher ground in central Scotland, but it looks as if it won't be very deep or long-lasting. WX Charts shows about a millimetre at midnight on October 22.

The Met Office's long-range forecast states that high pressure is expected to dominate, bringing dry, settled weather until October 21, when more unsettled conditions begin to move in.

In its forecast for October 21 to November 4, the Met Office says there is a greater chance of most if not all places seeing spells of rain or showers and possibly strong winds later in the month.

It says these conditions continue into the start of November and temperatures will probably be close to average overall.

In its forecast for October 20 to 26, Netweather also expects the weather to turn more unsettled.

Temperatures early in the week may well drop below the seasonal average, particularly in the south, according to Netweather.

Frontal systems later in the week are expected to push rain in from the south-west, bringing wetter and warmer conditions.

The same forecaster says these may struggle to make their way into northern and eastern Britain until towards the end of the week.

Netweather adds: "Temperatures are likely to be about a degree down on the long-term average in most regions, but near or slightly above normal near North Sea coasts, where the winds will often be coming in off the comparatively warm North Sea."

South and east Britain is expected to see "near normal" rainfall, but this will be below the expected amounts for western Scotland and north-west England.

Sun-worshippers in the north of the UK may be pleased to hear that Netweather forecasts sunshine totals as likely being well above normal in western Scotland and north-west England.