UK weather maps turn purple as Britain battered by 24 hours of snow

Snow is set to blanket parts of Britain next week as freezing temperatures usher in an icy weather front, with some weather maps turning purple indicating the likelihood of snow.

Towards the end of next week, sub-zero nighttime temperatures will engulf large parts of the UK, most notably Scotland.

The freezing temperatures, combined with the remnants of hurricane Kirk look set to foster a perfect storm that threatens rain, snow and traffic disruption.

According to new weather maps by WXCharts.com, the cold weather will hit Scotland, Newcastle and parts of Lancashire, with the south of the country set to be only two or three degrees warmer.

A Met Office forecast said that from the middle of next week: “Frequent showers, especially over southern areas, at first, will probably (but not definitely, at this range) give way to more widespread rain and strong winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Kirk later in the week.”

The weather maps show there is a strong possibility of snow across much of Scotland with areas of northern England also susceptible to seeing their first post-summer snow.

In parts of Scotland, the snow could be as deep as 20cm on Friday, October 11 - and could fall for mre than 24 hours.

The Met Office forecast continued: “Scotland and Northern Ireland are more likely to quickly turn colder with showers, and the colder weather perhaps some sleet/snow on Scottish mountains) will most likely gradually work its way south following the clearance of hurricane Kirk.”

Hurricane Kirk is a 120mph hurricane that is currently causing havoc in the Caribbean.

Britain is in the firing line to see its remnants next week, resulting in potentially horror scenes of torrential rain and wind. Jim Dale, founder of British Weather Services said it could turn "ugly" as the ex-hurricane tracks northeastwards towards Europe and the UK.

He told Express.co.uk: "It's still on track and looking ugly. I can't be precise regarding wind and rain impacts as yet; but if it continues to steer across us then there will be trouble at the mill.

"But, it's early days. Patience and focus is required to see where it actually hits."

According to the Met Office, an unsettled start to next week is the most likely outlook. Low pressure will continue to dominate and it won't be until the latter half that the then ex-hurricane will make its move.

It will then be classed as a storm, due to losing its hurricane strength by the time it reaches Britain.

Tony Wisson, from the Met Office, said: “Hurricane Kirk is currently in the tropical Atlantic. It is expected to move north into cooler waters, where it will lose a lot of its strength, but maintain its identity as a moderately deep low-pressure system.”