Widespread frost and freezing fog forecast as cold health alerts continue
Arctic air will maintain its grip on the UK to start the weekend, as cold health alerts remain in place for a large swathe of England.
Saturday will dawn with another sharp and widespread frost with the coldest conditions expected in England and Wales.
Patches of freezing fog could also be a hazard, reducing visibility and bringing a risk of very slippery surfaces in southern and eastern England.
Then it is all change by Sunday with most areas having a frost-free start, but heavy bursts of rain and brisk winds will sweep across the country later.
Freezing fog could cause some disruption on Saturday
Freezing fog and rime ice may mean some slippery conditions on untreated roads and pavements in the south on Saturday morning
Saturday will start with temperatures widely below freezing in parts of England and Wales.
Lows in towns and cities are expected to fall to -2 or -3C, but in the countryside they could be as low as -5C.
In southern and south-east England there could also be some patchy freezing fog which forms in air that is below freezing.
Super-cooled water droplets remain suspended in the air and it can be particularly dangerous as they can freeze on impact turning untreated pavements into instant ice rinks.
Yellow cold health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are in force for the West Midlands and north-west England until 12:00 Saturday, external.
More of a breeze further north will mean most places will be a few degrees above freezing.
The frostiest conditions on Saturday morning are likely to be in the southern half of the British Isles
After the fog and frost clears, Saturday will largely become a bright and dry day.
By the afternoon, temperatures will rise across the UK - ranging from 7C in parts of the Highlands to a milder 12C in south-west England.
England and Wales are forecast to see long spells of sunshine, away from the odd shower early on in the far north-west.
Northern Ireland will have some bright spells in the morning, with thickening cloud in the afternoon and rain by evening.
A few showers are expected in parts of Scotland where is will also be a breezy day, and will feel colder due to the wind chill.
Rain to return on Sunday
Expected rainfall totals this weekend will be highest in Scotland and Northern Ireland
The chilly but mainly dry spell of late will be replaced by something more unsettled on Sunday as low pressure sweeps in from the Atlantic.
Areas of showery rain will drift from west to east across much of the UK.
The heaviest of the rain is likely in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as southern and western parts of England and Wales.
This is generally good news for places still suffering from drought or severe drought, although parts of eastern England may avoid most of the rainfall.
You can keep up to date with your local forecast by checking BBC Weather online and on the app.
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