Temperatures are set to plummet to 4C this weekend

Britons are braced for frosty run-up to Christmas with temperatures set to plummet to 4C this weekend – as nine flood warnings remain in place after a fortnight’s rain fell in just 24 hours.

November’s dismal wet weather will finally change with torrential downpours making way for drier, colder conditions across Great Britain – with the big freeze expected to begin by the weekend.  

The drier spell will be welcomed after more than half a month’s worth of rain pummelled the parish of Wattisham near Stowmarket in Suffolk in the 24 hours to 6am on Wednesday, the Met Office said.  

The Met Office currently has one weather warning in place for Friday, which covers the whole of the Midlands and the east Anglia regions.

Those heading out for the morning commute on Friday morning have been warned to be wary of slippery ice, as some patches could be formed on untreated roads. 

Temperatures are set to drop over the weekend and could put a dampener on outdoor activities as a chill sweeps across the country 

Canoeists make their way down the river Stour in Blandford Forum in Dorset, November’s dismal weather will finally change, with drier and colder conditions coming for the start of December

Forceful waves and strong winds gusting at up to 50mph begin to hit the Cornwall coast at Penzance on Tuesday

The cold weather is seen pushing through the UK this evening as commuters tomorrow are set to be hit by the cold weather

Whitchurch in Cardiff recorded the second highest level of rainfall, with 1.2 inches of rain falling in 24 hours, although this represented around one fifth of the average November deluge for the area. Craibstone in Aberdeenshire received 1 inch of rainfall, while Kent saw just under that.   

Thursday is expected to be a transition day as the spell of low pressure leaves the UK before a new high comes in.

Rain is expected to clear southwards across Wales and the Midlands tonight and with this surface temperatures will drop well below freezing.  

Areas that are due to be affected by the ice include the East Midlands, West Midlands, Wales and some parts of the South West. 

People in Christchurch Meadows Oxford on a rainy afternoon, one runner was seen wearing shorts despite the dismal conditions

The river Severn has flooded fields near lower Apperley in Gloucestershire. The return of the wet weather has once again caused havoc for many 

Stormy weather hits the coastline at the fishing port of Porthleven in Cornwall, England as Storm Sebastien hits parts of Britain for the second day running after more than half a month’s rainfall in just 24 hours on Tuesday

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: ‘We have certainly had a wet autumn but thankfully as we go into Friday and the weekend, for many parts of the UK it should be largely dry.

‘Thursday is looking for some of us a wet day but not as wet as we have seen on Wednesday. Our warnings will expire at 6am on Thursday and after that we will be warning-free for a few days.

‘It will be a transition day between the wet and mild weather we have had this week, to something a bit colder and drier.

Choppy waters were seen this morning in the north east of the country as weather conditions look to deteriorate over the next few days 

‘The transition will start across Scotland during Thursday and transfer overnight into Friday. There will be rain around and it will be heavy at times.

‘The heaviest rain will be across Northern Ireland and north west England and sink its way slowly south through the day.

‘By the evening rush hour, it will be fairly wet across parts of Wales, the south Midlands and south east England. 

‘Once that rain gets out of the way, into Friday, we will have largely dry weather and temperatures will take a tumble.’

He said while highs earlier this week in the South had reached 13C, they will drop to 8-9C in the South and as low as 4-5C in the North.

He said: ‘Over the weekend, as we go into the first few days of December, it is going to be drier and colder.’