The Met Office has issued a 'danger to life' ice warning with temperatures set to drop below freezing overnight.
Roads and pavements will be wet after a band of rain moves through and they will freeze as parts of England and Wales see lows of about -4C.
The ice warning will be in place between 12.15am and 10am on Friday as temperatures dip below normal for the time of year by the weekend.
The Met Office said there will be icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, and there could be some injuries from slips and falls.
It said: "An area of rain is expected to clear southwards across much of Wales, the Midlands, East Anglia and the south of northern England on Thursday evening.
"Following this surface temperatures are expected to fall away below freezing and following the rain and recent wet weather many surfaces are likely to remain wet leading to icy stretches forming where these not treated."
Friday will feel cold across the UK, although it will be fine, dry and bright in most places, the Met Office said.
The temperature will peak at just 7C in the south and 3C in the north.
The weekend will be just as cold, with wet and windy conditions expected in south-west England on Saturday.
The weather will turn milder and cloudier from Monday.
Following torrential downpours throughout November, there are still nine current flood warnings in the UK - meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required.
The areas affected as of Thursday morning are: Barrow upon Humber, Low Barlings and the Short Ferry area, Low lying properties in the Upper Hull catchment, North Bank Road alongside the River Nene, east of Peterborough and west of Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice, North Sea at Roker, Sunderland, North Sea at Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and Tynemouth, North Sea coast at Hornsea, River Esk from Briggswath to Ruswarp and River Severn at Sandhurst and Maisemore.
Temperatures are set to dip below normal for the time of year by the weekend.
The drier spell will be welcomed after more than half a month's worth of rain pummelled the parish of Wattisham near Stowmarket in Suffolk in the 24 hours to 6am on Wednesday, the Met Office said.
It received 32.2mm (1.27in) of rain in that period, while the average November rainfall for the region is 60mm (2.36in).
That was the highest volume of rainfall anywhere in the UK during that time.
Thursday is expected to be a transition day as the spell of low pressure leaves the UK before a new high comes in.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: "We have certainly had a wet autumn but thankfully as we go into Friday and the weekend, for many parts of the UK it should be largely dry.
"Thursday is looking for some of us a wet day but not as wet as we have seen on Wednesday.
"It will be a transition day between the wet and mild weather we have had this week, to something a bit colder and drier.
"The transition will start across Scotland during Thursday and transfer overnight into Friday.
"There will be rain around and it will be heavy at times.
"The heaviest rain will be across Northern Ireland and north west England and sink its way slowly south through the day.
"By the evening rush hour, it will be fairly wet across parts of Wales, the south Midlands and south east England.
"Once that rain gets out of the way, into Friday, we will have largely dry weather and temperatures will take a tumble."
Mr Snell said while highs earlier this week in the South had reached 13C, they will drop to 8-9C in the South and as low as 4-5C in the North.
He added: "Over the weekend, as we go into the first few days of December, it is going to be drier and colder."
Met Office five-day weather forecast
Thursday
Many areas starting rather cloudy with rain at times.
Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England drier and brighter later though, whilst southern UK mostly dry at first.
Cold and windy in the north and far east.
Thursday night
Today's rain gradually becoming confined to south Wales and south-west England.
Otherwise, a cold and frosty night for many whilst northern Scotland and North Sea coasts catch occasional showers.
Friday
Most areas fine, dry and bright.
Northern Scotland and some North Sea coastal areas will catch occasional showers whilst south-west England has a cloudier day with patchy rain.
Feeling cold.
Saturday to Monday
Wet and windy across south-west England on Saturday.
Otherwise mainly dry with sunny spells for most.
Cold with overnight frosts.
Turning milder and cloudier with rain over Scotland on Monday.
