Temperatures set to plunge across Britain

11:08 01 December 2009

Parts of Britain are to experience wintery conditions over the next few days as a cold front brings temperatures as low as -7C.

Snow is likely to cause disruption for those on higher ground, with widespread frost and ice across the rest of the country.

As we wave goodbye to a wet November, the start of December has brought with it colder temperatures.

Last month is tipped to have been the wettest November on record. The torrential downpours caused severe flooding in Cumbria taking out several bridges with the deluge. Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire was also left submerged once more as the River Severn burst its banks for the third year running.

For flood-hit Cumbria, which is still cleaning up after the devastation, there is more bad news as forecasters predict up to two inches of snow.

Tom Tobler of MeteoGroup forecasters said: "We have got cold air spreading down across the UK. There will be snow on higher ground."

Some parts of Britain have already experienced the first snows of winter. The Llanberis Pass in north Wales saw an inch and a half fall and sport enthusiasts were able to kick off the ski season in the Cairngorms in Scotland.

However the wet weather is set to return as another front comes in from the Atlantic is expected to drop yet more rain on the UK causing further risk of flooding.

Despite the bad weather, the Met Office has predicted that Britain will have a mild winter because of the El Nio weather system developing in the Pacific Ocean.