Biting frost and a blanket of ice will strike on Friday as temperatures plunge in a return to wintry weather and a cold snap.
Spring may have only just sprung but forecasters are warning Brits that lows of minus 1 C will be felt in some regions as well as torrential downpours throughout the day.
The Met Office has also urged people to expect 'wintry showers' as well as hail and even snow in some higher regions, with up to four inches of the white stuff predicted to fall.
Forecaster Aidan McGivern said: "A brief spell of heavy rain and strong winds crosses the country on Friday opening the door to frequent heavy showers and a brief cold snap.
"There is some very lively weather during the next few days."
He added that 'all of a sudden it will turn very wet and windy' before temperatures plunge as 'the cold front rushes through.'
The weather expert also said there will be brighter weather but equally a lot of showers to go with it.
The Met Office added there would be 'hail, thunder and lightning' in many areas and that the heaviest showers would be in the north west of the country.
A low temperature of minus 1 C is predicted to be felt in parts of central Scotland by tonight.
Into the weekend snow is expected to fall in some northern areas, with up to 10cm forecast in higher regions.
There will also be icy patches early on Saturday which forecasters said will see a wintry start for the second weekend of spring.
Despite the cold start Saturday's weather is looking more promising, the Met Office added, with a sunny start in most areas as conditions begin to improve before rain pummels the UK on Sunday.
With the looming downpour there are further warnings of the possibility of flooding in some areas in England.
The Environment Agency currently has 10 flood alerts in place for the country, meaning 'flooding is possible' in those affected areas.
UK Weather Forecast
Today:
Band of heavy rain spreading eastwards across remaining areas. Sunshine and scattered blustery showers following, showers heavy with hail in west and turning wintry at times over hills. Turning colder.
Tonight:
Clear spells but blustery wintry showers almost anywhere, least frequent in south and east, some snow accumulations on W and N hills. Frost for many, with ice risk in northwest.
Saturday:
Showers easing through the morning, most places becoming dry with sunny spells. Thicker cloud and outbreaks of rain spreading to the northwest later. Breezy with coastal gales in northwest later.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Cloudy and windy with persistent rain across many western hills Wales northwards. Mostly dry across the south and increasingly warm. Windy with gales across many coasts and hills, easing Tuesday.
