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As the clocks prepare to turn back and the nights grow longer, autumn has firmly taken hold of Britain, and now the nation is bracing for the first widespread frosts of the season.

Temperatures are set to take a nosedive on Thursday and Friday night, plunging to the low single figures across the country and potentially dropping to freezing in areas of the Pennines as far south as the Peak District.

The Met Office has warned that the lowest temperatures, a bone-chilling -1C (30F), are expected to grip north Pennine areas of County Durham, Cumbria, and Northumberland.

The chilly nights are predicted to be the result of a "cold northerly airflow" sweeping in after a week of heavy, blustery, and sometimes thundery showers battering all areas of the country.

Clocks set to turn back as nation shivers

The cold snap will hit just days before the clocks go back, in the early hours of Sunday, marking the official start of the winter season.

As Britons prepare to adjust their timepieces, they'll also be reaching for their warmest coats and gloves to combat the icy conditions.

After a brief respite of mild weather over the weekend, the nation is set to wake up to a frosty and icy Monday morning. Temperatures are expected to plunge overnight, with the coldest areas of rural Scotland potentially seeing lows of -7C or even -8C, while rural areas across England could shiver in -2C or -3C conditions.

Even in towns and cities, the overnight lows are expected to be a chilly 1C or 2C.

Met Office warns of 'widespread frost' and 'icy patches'

Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud has warned that "we can expect a widespread frost with a few icy patches on Tuesday morning," urging Britons to take extra care on their morning commutes.

As rain sweeps across the country later on Tuesday, areas of higher ground in northern England are likely to see snow, adding to the wintry mix.

Mr. Stroud has assured that the snow will be "fairly shortlived" and melt on Wednesday as temperatures improve.

However, in typical British fashion, the weather is set to change again, with "wet and windy" conditions dominating for the rest of the week, rather than the cold snap.

Weekend warmth gives way to single-digit highs

The quick cold snap is a stark contrast to the mild conditions experienced across the country over the weekend. Met Office figures show that the warmest spot on Saturday was Chivenor in Devon, where temperatures topped a pleasant 16C (61F).

However, high temperatures across the UK were expected to be in single digits today as the topsy-turvy nature of the winter weather continues.

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