People look out from the viewing platform of Horizon 22 in Bishopsgate, London, as the sky is rendered grey, caused by high pressure over the UK trapping moisture near the surface of the Earth, creating stubborn cloud or, in weather parlance, 'anticyclonic gloom'.
A gloomy day from the viewing platform of 22 Bishopsgate in London on November 8 (Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA)

The weather in the first weeks of November was so gloomy some described it as ‘like living in Tupperware’.

Parts of England recorded no sunshine at all during the first seven days, but that layer of cloud blocking the sky is finally lifting and leaving cold weather in its wake.

The Met Office said things are going to get chilly, particularly overnight, with some areas potentially seeing snow and frost.

‘Now’s the time to dig out those winter woolies,’ forecasters said. ‘Whilst November has been mild, dry and dull so far, a change to colder, windier and wetter weather is on the way this weekend.’

The start of November saw higher than average temperatures of 13°C to 15°C in many parts of the country.

They are forecast to return to the usual daily highs of between 8°C in Scotland and 11°C in the south over the next few days.

Frosts could be seen tonight in north Wales, the north and north-west England, and Scotland, with northerly breezes potentially bringing an extra wind chill from Saturday.

Walker in the woods on a sunny afternoon in Dunsden, Oxfordshire, yesterday
It might be cold but at least we’ll remember what the sun looks like (Picture: Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock)
Weather map showing temperatures for Wednesday
Wednesday will be much chillier (Picture: Met Office)

There is a chance of snow in the Scottish Highlands from early next week but a ‘very, very low probability’ of flurries further south.

Forecasters dubbed the bleak weather we’ve been experiencing ‘anticyclonic gloom’.

It led to the UK experiencing, on average, only three hours of sunshine in the whole of the seven days up to Thursday last week.

While the Met Office was quick to point out that we should not expect blizzards of the white stuff burying Big Ben, they did mention the ‘S’ word and say that some areas in the north could see snow now the weather has changed.

Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mark Sidaway said: ‘The high pressure that has been responsible for the mainly dry weather through much of this week will retrogress into the Atlantic as we get towards the weekend.

‘In addition to this increased rainfall, which could be heavy at times on Sunday, temperatures will also drop, especially for those in Scotland, as a northerly airflow develops, bringing colder Arctic air to some northern areas.

‘This shift does introduce the possibility of snow, initially over high ground in the north from Sunday, with gusty winds also a potential hazard.

‘Warnings for winter hazards are possible later in the weekend, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest forecast.’

According to provisional figures up to November 11 we’ve only seen 14% of the full month’s long-term average sunshine and at this point, you’d expect to have seen around 37%.

The UK has also had its driest start to the month on record with an average of just 3.5mm falling in the UK so far, which is only 3% of the long-term average for the whole of the month.

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