UK weather turns colder as Arctic air moves in

Some media reports are suggesting an “Arctic blast”.

While it is accurate to suggest the Arctic origins of the air this week, “blast” is probably a bit dramatic, and a word more suited to much colder air in winter.

However, there is no doubt we are going to have a noticeable change.

At the end of last week, temperatures reached 28C in eastern England with some humid air.

From Tuesday and for the rest of the week, strong north-westerly winds will bring colder air from the Arctic across the United Kingdom.

Temperatures will then widely be below the average with daytime maximums of nine to 14C, but the wind will probably make it feel colder than even those temperatures suggest.

This wind will also bring lots of showers to northern and western areas of the UK, some of those heavy and thundery with hail.

The air will be cold enough over the highest ground of Scotland for some of the showers to turn wintry.

Snow over the Scottish mountains is not uncommon in September as we transition into the colder winter months. Our nights will also get rather chilly.

With winds falling lighter on Thursday night, temperatures will drop down to 3-6C with a touch of ground frost in more rural areas.

By Friday and into the weekend, there will be another change in wind direction to a south-westerly.

This wind direction tends to bring in more seasonally average temperatures – around 16 to 20C for mid-September.