A fierce Arctic blast will sweep the UK bringing the first snowfall this autumn in just two weeks.
Temperatures are set to take a nosedive after the weekend as a blanket of icy air sweeps in from the east.
Some parts of the country will see thermometers sink below freezing with frost and bitter winds bringing the first taste of winter.
The warning comes as Europe wraps up for an early whiteout with bitter easterly winds heading this way next week.
Weather Network forecast for cool blast across the UK
Getty
Parts of Scotland and very high ground further south could see the first flurry of snow arrive before the end of the month, forecasters say.
Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel UK, said: "The main theme for next week is drier weather but also turning quite a bit colder from Sunday; jumpers, coats and a warm fire fits the bill."
Have your say in the comments section below
He said overnight temperatures will touch freezing in parts of the country with widespread frosts likely under clear skies.
Getty
"Where skies are clear at night and winds fall light, there will be some air frosts next week," he said.
"This is most likely over Scotland on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, but later in the week temperatures close to freezing in the south too by Friday morning."
James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said the first snowfall of winter is likely to arrive before the end of the month.
Getty
He said: "As we head in the second half of the meteorological autumn and from as early as next week, we will begin to see more of a chillier theme developing as some strong easterly winds begin to exert an influence across the British Isles.
"This will allow for the first real taste of some wintry weather and during the final third of October we could see some snow across higher ground of the north and on well-elevated levels as far south as Wales or southern England."
In the short-term, Britain's weather is about to settle down after a week of heavy rain and winds brought floods to parts of Britain.
Getty
The remnants of Hurricane Joaquin will be held at bay by high pressure over the country.
Weather Network spokesman Richard Chapman said much of the UK can expect a mild and settled weekend although things will turn chilly next week.
"Easterly winds will bring a cool start to next week," he said.
"Currently, very cold air is moving across northern Russia into Scandinavia and the Baltic states, producing temperatures well below normal for early October.
"From Sunday onward, it will become rather chilly, and daytime highs will struggle at 10 to 14C, coolest in eastern England, and feeling rather unpleasant with a wind off the North Sea, and a lot of cloud, plus occasional drizzle."
Temperatures this weekend will hover around 15C in the south and around 12C further north during the day.