UK weather forecast: Britain braced for ICY ONSLAUGHT at Hurricane Leslie threatens HAVOC

The Met Office warned temperatures will plummet over the weekend, with extremely wet downpours and ferocious winds threatening to engulf the UK.

The wintry systems are said to be coming off the tail of Hurricane Leslie, which is expected to inch closer towards Europe and the UK within the next 14 days.

Met Office meteorologist Clare Nassir said: “We will see some rain in northern England and northern wales on Friday, with some ground frost also occurring.”

But as the storm rips through the Atlantic, the UK will be forced to batten down the hatches over the next five days with wet and windy chills blasting areas up and down the country.

The Met Office forecast said: “Colder in the south on Saturday, with rain and brisk winds.

“Very wet and very windy weather returning to the northwest on Sunday and Monday.”

Meteorologists confirmed cloud and heavy rain will hit Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England and north Wales Thursday night.

Residents in the north will wake up to freezing temperatures and ground frost on Friday morning, with heavy fog and low cloud forming in the southern regions of the country.

On Saturday, the south will be drenched by heavy rain, reaching between 2 and 3.5 millimetres, while other parts of the country are battered by whippings winds and unrelenting downpours.

The latest forecast comes as Storm Leslie edges closer toward the UK and Europe.

The storm, which was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday by the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC), could mix with swathes of arctic cross-winds to create a bleak and chilly October. The gloomy system will bring icy winds and heavy downpours as the Atlantic system draws nearer towards Europe.

Mrs Nassir said of the weekend outlook: “In the south, Friday morning will see murky conditions take hold at around 19C before temperatures plummet to 16C on Saturday and 14C on Sunday.

“A waving weather front feature means it will be reluctant to clear in the south on Saturday and Sunday, with a ridge of high pressure meaning a very chilly start to the day for many areas on Sunday morning, with a touch of ground frost.