Britain is bracing for four days of washouts from an 800-mile wide Atlantic storm front that will bring thundery and heavy rain and 45mph wind gusts.
The storm front is set to strike after a Bank Holiday Monday that was colder than Siberia and verged on the coldest ever.
The Met Office , preparing severe weather warnings, forecast -5C on Tuesday morning and heavy downpours for many regions from Wednesday until Saturday.
Days of wet and windy weather have led to fears of flash floods as up to 30mm of rain falls and thunderstorms will hit every day, according to the latest forecasts.
Snow is due Tuesday and Wednesday night in the north on high ground, and on Thursday on north Wales’ mountains.
Gusts up to 45mph will buffet south, west and east.
Highs will be just 11-15C.
On Tuesday, showers in Scotland and northern England will spread into Northern Ireland, north Wales and central and eastern parts of England with some brighter intervals, the Met Office said.
The weather will be mainly fine in south Wales and southern and southwest England.
In the evening, rain and brisk winds in the southwest will spread northeastwards, and showers will fall in the north, the Met Office said.
Rain will stall over northern England and Scotland on Wednesday, and heavy thundery showers will hit the south after sunny spells.
Heavy rain and showers will continue from Thursday with a chance of wintry showers in the far north later in the week.
Met Office forecaster Emma Smith said: “Monday was close to the coldest May Bank Holiday minimum temperature on record, and Tuesday morning could be colder at -5C in Scotland.
“Now the jet stream will bring low pressure across the country, with a warning likely on Wednesday night for surface water flooding in the North-East.
“A big band of rain will move across the country on Wednesday, with 15-20mm widely and 30mm in the North-East.