Parts of the UK will experience winter showers and chilly temperatures today, with the possibility of mercury dropping to as low as –3C in some areas.

The Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Jason Kelly, said a low had brought frigid weather conditions across the UK, which was expected to last only the next few days.

He said: “From the middle of the week, the tropical depression started to work again in the southwest direction, causing heavy rain at times. Although it will start to soften in the south, it will be colder in the extreme northeast with some winter showers.”

Nick Silkstone, deputy director of weather forecasting at the Bureau of Meteorology, said temperatures were unusually low for this time of year.

He said: “UK temperatures are much colder than average with some locations experiencing overnight frost.

“An area of ​​low pressure moving eastward away from the UK has allowed cold air from the Arctic to spread south across the UK.

“While temperatures will rise over much of Britain over the weekend, conditions in the far north are expected to remain colder than average.”

The Met Office has forecast temperatures to plummet to -3 degrees in the Scottish Highlands, with an average of 3 degrees in the northeast.

But look ahead Britons will be able to enjoy a breezy Bank Holiday weekend with temperatures set to be higher than Monaco in the south of France.

Temperatures will start to rise on Thursday as the arctic winds disappear and by Friday it will be cloudy and quite overcast but temperatures could have risen to 20C.

UK weather forecast:

Wednesday:

Conditions are expected to be mostly dry across the UK, with variable clouds, clear skies and chilly temperatures in most areas.

In the southwest, the sky turned overcast, with some scattered rain.

Further winter showers will affect north-east Scotland and a few showers will develop across southern Scotland and northern England.

Thursday:

It will be cloudy in most areas, especially in the southern and central regions, with increased clouds expected in the west.

Showers and thunderstorms in the South, scattered light showers in the Southwest.

Some showers will push westward from the North Sea. It will be brighter elsewhere, with winter showers in the far north and some clouds. Rain and snow are expected in the hilly areas of Scotland.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

The rain will stop on Friday. It will be a rather cloudy day after that, with only a few showers in the afternoon. Saturday will be cloudy with change and showers in the north and west, but dry with sunshine in the southeast. Temperatures will become almost warmer, with some showers.