Snow will hit UK in 'brutal' -2C polar vortex with five locations hit by flurries

Maps and charts show a significant downturn in weather as we head into October.

The UK faces a "brutal" snow vortex, with a polar blast sweeping the country in -2C conditions as we head into October, the tenth month of the year. Maps and charts show a significant downturn in weather as we head into October.

Wednesday October 2 has been earmarked as a particularly chilly date, with the forecasts and maps from WX Charts, which uses Met Desk data, showing a brutal weather front with the Highlands, Perth and Kinross and Stirling shivering in -2C to 0C.

Cairngorms, Ullapool, Inverness and Fort William face snow, while the Lake District in England will wake up to a dusting too. James Madden, from Exacta Weather, said: "Yesterday and overnight also brought the first heavy snow showers and settling snow of this week across the 'highest' ground in Scotland/ski resorts.

READ MORE Gran Canaria issues 'island-wide' emergency alert and warns UK tourists

"Some additional and non-significant wintry weather could also develop across the highest ground once again throughout the early hours of tomorrow in parts of the Cairngorms and the Nevis Range. Overnight Thursday and throughout much of Friday will then bring an even greater risk for some more notable snow across these regions as unsettled conditions coincide with the colder and optimum temperature for snow in these parts.

"Nevertheless, these are some great early signals for the ski resorts this year and our upcoming winter, especially when September has now brought multiple snow events to these parts (one earlier this month, one yesterday, possibly early Thursday before the risk of something more notable on Friday)."

He went on to say: "It could also turn rather cool and autumnal towards month end, coinciding with unsettled conditions pushing in off the Atlantic to deliver a relatively early wintry blast that could bring snow in September to the 'highest' ground and ski resorts in the north of Scotland."

The Met Office says, in the short-term, outbreaks of rain, some heavy and perhaps thundery, will move south across England and Wales. Otherwise clear spells, with a patchy frost, and showers in the far north. Strong winds.