UK weather maps reveal exact date temperatures to plummet to -1C – and it's days away

More cold and miserable is set to sweep the UK over the coming days - with temperatures plummeting to -1C and some forecasters hinting at the possibility of heavy and persistent across several areas.

New maps reveal exactly when the country will fall into the sub-zero cold snap, which is expected to last up to four days. According to WXCharts, Northern areas will be hit hardest by freezing conditions on October 11 from 6am, with Newcastle and parts of - including , Aberdeen and Iverness - among the cities to be hit.

Temperatures will sit at 0C for areas north and south of Edingburgh, while Iverness is forecasted to be the chilliest, with temperatures dropping as low as -1C. Forecasters also predict the UK will be blanketed by snow during this time, which . Weather guru Jim Dale, senior meteorologist and founder of British Weather Services, said the upcoming snowfall would be "one to watch" amid falling temperatures.

Until then, a thunderstorm warning has been issued for large swathes of the country which will see torrents of rain hit the south, the has warned.

The forecaster warned: "Areas of heavy showers and thunderstorms will move northwards across southern parts of England and Wales later Monday, clearing northwards overnight. Some places will see 20 to 30mm of rain within two to three hours, with a small chance that a few places could receive 40mm. Thunderstorms are most likely for south-facing coastal districts, and hail and some strong gusts of wind could accompany the heaviest showers and thunderstorms."

Looking further ahead, it warned all areas of the UK will face a "colder interlude" with northerly winds pushing south and bringing showers. From Friday October 11 onwards, temperatures will be "below average, especially in the north with some overnight frost possible along with some patchy mist and fog."

Later in the weekend, it will turn unsettled once more - with outbreaks of rain and some stronger winds expected to return to the northwest of the UK - whilst the southeast may hang on to drier conditions.