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Friday begins cold and frosty in much of the southern half of the UK. In northern regions stronger winds and cloudier skies have kept the temperatures a few degrees above freezing point. Today showers continue in northern and western Scotland and they will be wintry at times with snow over high ground. Elsewhere it remains dry and bright.

Temperatures range from 5C (41F) in Scotland to 9C (48F) in the south west. See the rainfall radar for the latest view.

Tonight heavy showers extend across much of the north and over high ground they fall as snow. In the rest of the country it will be dry and clear spells lead to a frost in southern and central areas.

Weekend weather

Tomorrow showers become more scattered in the north and sunny periods develop. Central areas should remain mostly dry but in the south an area of rain spreads southeastwards. The Meteo France Arpge 00z precipitation  forecast for 16:00GMT tomorrow. with rain affecting parts of the south but there is some uncertainty about its northern extent.

The damp conditions in the south should clear overnight to leave a cold and frosty start to Sunday, although in the south west it could be milder. Central and eastern areas have a bright and cold day. In the west and across Northern Ireland cloud thickens and patchy outbreaks of rain push in from the Atlantic as milder air begins to return.

Next week firming up

There has been much uncertainty about the weather prospects for next week but the details are now starting to firm up. Areas of low pressure look like deepening to the west and steadily pushing milder air northwards across the UK. All regions have rain at time and early in the period there could be snow over high ground in the north. There is also the risk of it becoming very windy.

The GFS forecast chart below for next Wednesday shows the milder air indicated by yellow and orange shading covering all of the UK.

GFS 00z, 17th November, 850hPa temperature forecast for Wednesday 22nd November 

Buzz looks at the uncertain mid term weather prospects. TWO's third winter discussion update, "Winter is coming" has been issued.

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Christmas countdown

TWO's annual Christmas Countdown continues.

16 day GEFS ensembles at a glance

Changeable weather is shown. Rather mild conditions are favoured for much of the period. View latest GEFS.