Exact time torrential rain and strong winds to sweep the UK as 'cold snap' arrives

12 October 2023, 12:17

Brits have been warned to brace for torrential rain and strong winds sweeping the UK as the first cold snap of the season arrives.

The Met Office warned that heavy downpours would arrive between 9pm on Thursday and 8pm on Friday, saying it was expected to impact large swathes of England and Wales.

The yellow weather warning was extended to include further north and east across England, with flooding "likely" in homes and businesses.

There will also be travel disruption as the wet weather causes delays across bus and train services as well as on the roads.

Thunder could also be on the cards in the south, with 20-30mm of rain set to fall in two hours.

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It comes as the first “cold snap” of the season is set to take over by the weekend.

Temperatures look set to plummet by up to 10C next week across the UK, reaching lows of -1C in some areas according to forecasters.

Snow may even arrive across parts of Scotland - particularly Inverness and the surrounding countryside.

It follows some of the warmest temperatures in nearly five years, with the mercury reaching 25.8C in London's Kew Gardens earlier this month.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Brent Walker said: “As we head through the second half of this week, cold air will push southwards across the country and there is a risk that showers over mountains of Scotland could turn wintry.

“By the weekend we expect all regions of the UK to be in the cold air mass and overnight frosts are possible.

“With high pressure continuing to dominate our weather early next week, it will start largely fine, settled and cool by day, with cold nights and a risk of rural air frosts in places.

“Any early morning mist or fog should clear quickly and there could be a few showers possible around some coasts at times.”