The UK could see the first proper snowfall of winter this week as a five-day chill sets in from Thursday. 

Snow is being widely forecast across northern England while parts of the south may also see some flurries as the ‘Indian summer’ comes to an abrupt end. 

A ‘polar pulse’ is set to sweep in across the country after the heavy rainfall seen in recent days. 

It will lower temperatures down to close to freezing in Scotland and northern England and as low as 4C in London.

November has so far been mild with unseasonably warm temperatures as high as 15C for many although this has been accompanied by heavy rainfall.

A yellow warning for rain was in place across south east England on Sunday morning as downpours continued to fall on already sodden ground. 

Only dustings of snow have fallen so far this autumn in Scotland and North Yorkshire but now northern England is forecast for snow more widely, with hills most at risk.

The latest snow risk maps from NetWeather show a 100 percent chance of snow over a five day period between Wednesday, November 18 to Sunday 22. Areas affected are likely to be central Scotland, with frostier conditions potentially sweeping towards north west England too.

Meanwhile, the WxCharts forecast for the next fortnight says: ‘Although it will often be quite mild, the low pressure track will occasionally dip southwards over central Europe towards the Alps and Italy.

‘This will pull in winds from the north or northwest into the UK, leading to colder snaps, with night frosts and squally wintry showers.

‘The greatest likelihood of snowfall will be over the hills in the north and west, especially in Scotland.

‘A couple of these short cold snaps might be expected to occur during the course of this two week period.’

BBC weather forecaster Louise Lear has also warned that wintery showers are coming.

She the ‘mild’ weather is about to come to an abrupt end with temperatures expected to plummet on Monday.

She said: ‘I just want to point out to you what happens as we go into Monday. It gets quite interesting. We have more wet weather coming in on Monday. It looks like another unsettled day with scattered showers.

‘Once that moves out of the way, temperatures will start to fall away, and into next weekend we draw in a northernly wind. It will feel noticeably cooler and I could be talking about snow showers next week.’

Looking further ahead, forecasters are predicting December could be even colder than normal, increasing the risk of overnight frosts and snow.

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