Threat of hill snow as temperatures plummet in North East

Bonfire Night is set to be chilly as wintry showers sweep along the coast, with snow forecast over higher ground.

It marks the beginning of what the Met Office is predicting to be a colder than average winter.

A spokesman for the forecaster said: "Overall, the chance of the UK experiencing temperatures in the ‘cold’ category is 30 per cent - one-and-a-half times the usual risk. Contingency planners and others with sensitivity to cold weather might need to consider this elevated level of risk."

The weekend will be see temperatures at around 8C during the day but thermometers are expected to fall close to zero overnight - so you may have to scrape those windscreens on a morning.

The Met Office forecast for the North East over the coming days:

This Evening and Tonight:

A mainly cloudy evening with showery rain clearing to isolated showers, and many areas becoming dry during the early hours. Clearing skies will allow temperatures to fall quickly with a little frost likely by dawn. Minimum Temperature 1C.

Friday:

Mainly dry and chilly with sunshine and light winds. Showers seem likely in the west over the Pennines especially, but staying drier in the east. Maximum Temperature 9C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Colder and windier during the weekend with sunshine and heavy showers, these wintry over the Pennines. Coastal gales likely, but winds easing during Monday. Overnight frost, especially in the west.