When temperatures are set to drop after unusually warm start to October

Mist, fog and nighttime frost are expected to sweep across the UK as a drop in temperature brings in more autumnal weather.

The Met Office said rural locations could see temperatures drop to minus 2C overnight from Wednesday into Thursday, while southern areas might reach 4C.

This shift follows unusually mild early October weather, returning temperatures closer to the typical average for the month.

On Tuesday, temperatures could still hit 22C in some places, though rural spots might see some frost overnight, before maximum temperatures fall to highs of 16C or 17C on Wednesday, the Met Office said.

Widespread single figures are expected on Thursday morning, before daytime temperatures range between 12C in the north and 16C in the far south during the afternoon.

Met Office meteorologist Kathryn Chalk said: “On Tuesday to the south, people might wake up to some mist and dense fog patches, to the north of that it’s going to be cloudy, to the far north, across Scotland, it will be a day of sunny spells and showers.

“As we head into Tuesday night we will see more rain on the way. Overnight into Wednesday there will be cloudy outbreaks of rain across much of England.

“Across Northern Ireland and Scotland it’s going to be feeling much cooler.

“Tuesday into Wednesday overnight, rural spots in the north could drop to minus 1C, and see frost in places.

“Wednesday morning we will see a wet start across the south east of England, some heavy spells of rain, behind that we will see more drier spells coming through.

“Wednesday, it’s going to be feeling cooler, highs of 16C/17C in the south, highs of 13C or 14C in the north.

“Overnight Wednesday into Thursday, that’s when we will have that real autumnal feel, widespread single figures to start Thursday morning.

“Temperatures on Thursday will range from 12C in the north to 16C in the far south.

“Thursday night into Friday, more showers, longer spells of rain and temperatures a little bit up.”

Friday looks unsettled as rain in the west gradually spreads eastwards. The rain could be heavy over western hills, particularly across western Scotland and northern England, the forecaster said.