STORMING IN UK weather: Met Office warns Brits to brace for thunderstorms this weekend as Arctic blast plunges nation into -6C chill
THE Met Office has warned Brits to brace for thunderstorms this weekend after an Arctic blast plunged the nation into a -6C chill.
A punishing low of -6.3C was recorded in the Cumbrian village of Shap last night.
Strong winds are now set to push a wall of storm clouds northwards up the country.
Met Office expert Alex Burkill said: "An area of low pressure is likely to deepen somewhere towards the south west of the UK today.
"There is a reasonable chance that this low will clear away towards the south.
"But some models want it to come back up towards the UK as we go into the weekend."If this happens, then that would bring some heavy rain spreading up from the south and also some strong winds.
"So a pretty unsettled weekend to come - but there is some uncertainty."
Today will be cold and cloudy for most Brits with scattered showers in many parts.
Cloud will blanket southern England, with some heavy rain falling in the south west.But the north could enjoy a few patches of sunshine amid the general greyness.A thick band of rain clouds will push up from the south overnight while a rural frost settles in the north.
Showers will spritz coastal areas, with slightly clearer night skies inland.
Most of Britain will get a soaking tomorrow as the cloud and rain carry on rolling up the country.
But they will peter out a bit, with some sunny spells forecast for the north.
Sunday will also be unsettled and nippy before the mercury begins to rise again.
Next week will see a mix of wet weather in the west and dry spells in the east.
The Met Office said: "It will be an uncertain start to the weekend though likely unsettled.
"A frontal system continues to push north across the UK, coupled with strong winds and possible coastal gales.
"This will likely be followed by a showery day with potential thunderstorms on Sunday and again on Monday."The Environment Agency has issued 40 amber flood alerts across England.
But the agency said the general flood risk over the weekend is actually very low.
Met Office forecast in full
Today
Often cloudy, with scattered showers. Best of the sunnier breaks towards the north.
Rain, heavy at times, developing over southwest England during the day as cloud covers the southern counties. Feeling chilly once more.
Tonight
Band of thicker cloud and outbreaks of rain moving slowly northwards across the south.
Elsewhere showers returning around coasts with clearer spells inland allowing a rural frost across the north.
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