Britain’s freaky start to summer is about to take another twist with a sweeping cold front to bring thundery downpours, hail and even snow.
Overnight temperatures will touch freezing in exposed parts of the far north this week, as June arrives with a shiver.
A cold front will move across the country, pulling in its wake a trail of Polar air.
In some parts of the UK, there could be patches of frost and freezing temperatures.
Temperatures are set to fall over the next few weeks
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Meteorologist for British Weather Services Jim Dale said: "As this cold front comes through overnight into Tuesday, it drags in a tongue of Polar air, and this airstream comes all the way down from the Arctic region.
"This air, coming across Iceland and Norway towards the UK, could even bring the risk of frost to the very north of the country, in the glens and highlands.
"Generally, as we head to mid-week, the north of the country will feel cool in a bit of a cold plunge."
Summer’s arrival this week will be equally unimpressive across the rest of the country with temperatures near or below average.
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A cold front is on its way to western Europe
Met Office
Bands of rain and strong winds will blow in from the west as the mercury hovers between 18C and 21C. Heavy rain will arrive with a crackle of thunder in parts of the country which could also see hail and snow.
Met Office meteorologist Kathryn Chalk said: "On Tuesday, it is a case of sunny spells and frequent, blustery showers moving through.
"Some of the showers could be heavy, perhaps with the odd rumble of thunder and some hail but even falling as snow over the highest mountains across Scotland.
"So, it is feeling rather cool here, but in any sunshine and in sheltered spots, we will see temperatures climbing, 18C to 21C."
Despite the gloomy short-range outlook, bookmakers are hopeful of a brighter start to summer. Ladbrokes has slashed the odds on the clouds eventually parting to reveal the hottest June on record.
Spokesman Alex Apati said: "Temperatures are on the up and the odds are heading in the opposite direction, with a record-breaking June now looking more likely than ever."
And while the outlook for the next week is miserably lacklustre, the longer-range outlook is more hopeful.
The Met Office’s three-month forecast predicts a greater-than-average chance of generally warmer weather this summer.
While wind and rain are never far away, temperatures towards the end of the month could swing from below to above average.
A band of rain is making its way across the country this morning
Met Office
A Met Office spokesman said: "Changeable weather is most likely across the UK with a mixture of Atlantic weather systems moving in from the west, interspersed with dry and sunny periods, perhaps with a bias towards longer dry spells early in the period.
"Temperatures are most likely to be near or slightly above normal, perhaps with some hot spells at times, especially across the south."
However, Britons hungry for heat will have to wrap up for a chilly start to the meteorological summer.
Jason Nicholls, lead international forecaster for AccuWeather, said: "A cold front will move across the UK into Tuesday, and this will spread some rain and some thunder, with lingering showers possible on Wednesday.
"There will be more rain later in the week before turning drier."
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