UK weather: Britain braces for snow, hail, heavy rain and wind this weekend

Unsettled weather is set to batter Britain this Saturday and Sunday as temperatures plunge to -3C with snow and hail.

Forecasters say a band of rain is heading towards the country and it's expected to bring drizzles across the southern and western part of England.

Temperatures are expected to stay around 7C to 10C before cold air sweeps in at an easterly direction with strong, wintry gales.

Residents in the north might be able to see the white stuff, as well as those on the higher ground in the south on Sunday.

Spells of rain will spread east across the country, followed by sunny spells and brisk winds.

Snow is expected to fall on northern England and high ground of Scotland (PA)

Stepping into Monday, snow is expected to fall in central Scotland and northern England but it will intensify over the day.

Northern Ireland, west Scotland and north-west England could be covered in a blanket of snow.

BBC's meteorologist Nick Miller, said the coming week will be cold and windy with a mixture of sunny spells and scattered with wintry showers.

He said: "We are going to see low pressure giving way through the weekend.

"The low pressure brings further showers into the start of next week. Some of those will be wintry but some of those will be in sunshine occasionally as well.

"Sunday starts frost-free but temperatures are about to take a dip because of a cold front."

"Sunday night into Monday morning will bring another disturbance in from the west. Northern Ireland, northern England, but especially Scotland going into Monday morning could be some snow to relatively low level and quite icy."

Five-day weather forecast:

Today:

Rather cloudy theme with some drizzle in places, particularly across the south, whilst a few showers affect parts of the south-west. Windy with occasional rain across northwest, while the best of any brightness most likely across parts of northeastern Britain.

Tonight:

Most places staying rather cloudy with strengthening southwesterly winds. Rain will spread to western areas overnight, becoming heavy at times across western Scotland.

Sunday:

Rain, heavy at times, will spread east across the UK, clearing northern and western areas by early afternoon. Then turning colder with wintry showers in the far northwest later.

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

Sunny spells and showers, the showers a wintry mix of rain, hail and snow. Snow mostly over high ground in the north. Colder and windier than of late.