Met Office urges Brits to 'stay up to date' as cold snap and snow set to hit UK in days

Meteorologists at the Met Office have issued a warning ahead of a shift to colder conditions as high pressure that's maintained mostly dry conditions in November begins to change. Forecasters are urging the public to stay on top of weather updates to avoid any surprises.

A "colder and more unsettled period" is anticipated to sweep across the UK as we move into the weekend and the following week.

Persistent rain is on the cards for western Scotland starting Friday, departing from the dry trend dictated by high pressure for much of the month. As of early Met Office statistics up until November 11, there has been only 8.3 hours of sunshine - barely 14 percent of the typical full-month expectation, where roughly 37 percent would normally be forecasted by this stage.

November started out exceptionally dry across the UK – it was, in fact, the driest onset to the month on record since 1891, with the nation averaging mere rainfall of 3.5mm or just 3 percent of what is generally expected for the entire month. There is still time for an influx of rain as more than half the month remains.

The Met Office has cautioned that the imminent arrival of colder spells alongside unpredictable weather patterns will mark a decisive end to the serene autumnal weather experienced thus far, reports the Daily Record.

The largely dry conditions experienced across the UK this week are set to change as high pressure gives way, with meteorologists predicting snow and unsettled weather. Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, Mark Sidaway, stated: "The high pressure that has been responsible for the mainly dry weather through much of this week will retrogress into the Atlantic as we get towards the weekend.

"This will gradually introduce more unsettled weather, initially in the north from Friday but more widely from Sunday. In addition to this increased rainfall, which could be heavy at times on Sunday, temperatures will also drop, especially for those in Scotland, as a northerly airflow develops, bringing colder Arctic air to some northern areas."

"This shift does introduce the possibility of snow, initially over high ground in the north from Sunday, with gusty winds also a potential hazard. There is a lot of uncertainty by Sunday, but there remain a number of scenarios which could bring some more widespread rain, along with some hill snow and stronger winds. Warnings for winter hazards are possible later in the weekend, so it's important to stay up to date with the latest forecast."

People interested in the long-range forecast can find more details in the Met Office's Deep Dive video releasing on Tuesday, accessible via YouTube or the Met Office app. For current weather updates, the public is encouraged to visit the Met Office website, subscribe to its YouTube channel, or follow their Twitter and Facebook accounts.