UK weather: Shock snow forecast as '3cm per hour' storm to come before summer

Shocking new weather maps reveal an unexpected forecast just days before the official start of summer, with temperatures plunging as low as 0C. Flurries will first land across a large chunk of from around 6am on May 23, according to advanced modelling maps.

It will then make a gradual shift south towards while temperatures in the region are predicted to plummet as low as 0C - bringing an unseasonably cold shift just days before summer. The Scottish Highlands, Inverness, and are among the areas that could see flurries next week. But while braces for , , and face widespread rain and unsettled conditions.

It comes after the warned the second half of May is likely to bring "spells of rain to many areas, perhaps heavy at times". This is likely to fall across northern Scotland and Edinburgh, as well as a number of major cities including London, Birmingham, , Newcastle, Cardiff, Plymouth and Belfast. Showers are expected to continue throughout May 23, but will largely dissipate the next morning.

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By May 24, rain and snow will be limited to areas of the north east and Scotland, with the rest of the country remaining dry, according to the weather maps. At their lowest, temperatures in Scotland could hover between 0-1C, while the south will average 8C.

The Met Office predicted dry and sunny spells around mid-May, but unsettled weather is set to make a return as we approach the end of the month.

According to the long range Met Office forecast from May 19 to May 28, most of the UK will see "fine with sunny spells during the first half of this period."

The forecaster adds: "A few showers are possible in the southeast at first but otherwise the majority of places will be dry. Temperatures are likely to be above normal for the time of year."

A shift is then expected to take place as we approach the Bank Holiday weekend. While the Met Office doesn't explicitly mention snow, it does point to unsettled conditions bringing heavy rain and strong winds to many areas of the UK.

The Met Office adds: "Into the bank holiday weekend and following week, a change in weather type is expected. More unsettled conditions are likely to develop, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic. This will bring spells of rain to many areas, perhaps heavy at times, with a risk of strong winds in places. Some drier and brighter intervals are likely between systems. Temperatures will probably be near normal or slightly above."