The Met Office says northerly parts of the UK could perhaps see snow or sleet in the days ahead as the country braces to be lashed by the tail of a hurricane. Some forecasters claimed the country is in the path of a ‘huge wall of snow’ or will see temperatures drop to -10C.

But the Met Office says we are likely to see wind, rain and possibly snow on the mountain tops of Scotland before some more settled and drier weather. The worst of the weather will come in the days ahead thanks to the tail end of Hurricane Kirk coming across the Atlantic.

Forecasters say cold weather will push south in the weeks ahead, but temperatures will be average for most of the country.

The Met Office forecast for October 8 to 17 reads: “The forecast period looks most likely to be mostly unsettled, with frequent bouts of wind and rain associated with areas of low pressure. Frequent showers, especially over southern areas, at first, will probably (but not definitely, at this range) give way to more widespread rain and strong winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Kirk later in the week.

“Scotland and Northern Ireland are more likely to quickly turn colder with showers, and the colder weather (perhaps some sleet/snow on Scottish mountains) will most likely gradually work its way south following the clearance of ex-Kirk. A more settled interlude is then possible, but further spells of wind and rain, again with a focus across southern areas, are likely to arrive from the west towards the end of the period.”

The end of the month should then be drier, after a little more rain. The forecast reads: “A continuation of low pressure systems tracking in from the Atlantic is the most likely scenario for the rest of October. This means wet and windy weather at times, especially across England and Wales, but with a suggestion that Scotland and Northern Ireland may be more likely to see longer breaks in the weather, and more in the way of drier spells.

“It is possible that these drier conditions could be seen more widely later in the month as higher pressure further north extends southwards for a time. This would also bring an increased chance of overnight fog and frost. Temperatures will tend to be close to average overall in the south, but probably below average in the north and northwest.”