London weather: Temperature plunges below zero as Met Office issues UK snow alert

Detailed summary

A ‘blocked weather pattern’ could bring will develop within weeks, increasing the chances of wintry weather across the UK

London woke up to a sharp frost on Saturday as a cold snap sent temperatures as low as -2C overnight in the capital.

Forecasters had warned of a “very cold night” before a chilly start to the weekend, with a it feeling as cold as -5C in the early hours London.

Temperatures are expected to peak at around 9C on Saturday and 11C on Sunday.

Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: “The UK forecast has moved to a colder phase with the daytime temperatures for most locations likely to stay in single figures.”

Friday brought the first widespread frost of autumn after the UK experienced its coldest night of the season so far on Thursday.

An overnight temperature of minus 6.6C was recorded in Sennybridge, near Brecon in south Wales, while Shap, a village near Penrith in Cumbria, recorded a low of minus 6.5C.

Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steven Keates said: “The outlook is changeable with spells of rain, sleet and some hill snow.

“Precipitation will be most persistent across northern Scotland, where there is an increasing chance of snow developing later in the day.

“This will mainly fall over high ground, where accumulations are likely, but some snow could fall to lower levels too. Ice may also become a hazard.”

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