A rare and treacherous weather event is on course to hit the UK, creating potential hazards for aircraft throughout this week, forecasters have warned.

The perilous weather pattern in question is freezing rain – a scarce form of precipitation where liquid turns to ice immediately upon impact with cold surfaces.

It will move across the UK in the coming days and be at its worst on the weekend.

As half term approaches, with many students off from Monday, there's added concern as airports gear up for a surge of holidaymakers.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill explains the phenomenon: "We have something a bit warmer coming in, but underneath it closer to the surface, we have some colder air plunging through, and now that's important because it brings the risk of some freezing rain... It can cause some very icy conditions and could cause some problems."

In an official Met Office YouTube briefing, Mr Burkill further cautioned: "There is this risk through this weekend and into the beginning of next week of various spells of freezing rain mixed in with some sleet and snow at times as well... Any snow, any freezing rain can cause some issues so we may need to issue some warnings for these nearer the time."

Additionally, locals must brace for what feels like a severe drop in temperature due to a stinging easterly wind, which could create a chilling sensation of a 'feels-like' temperature of -6C in places such as County Durham and North Yorkshire come Sunday and Monday, while parts of Aberdeenshire might experience -5C.

Despite the chilly conditions, air temperatures aren't set to soar, with the Southeast of England, including London, expecting highs of around 5C on Sunday.

Forecasters predict this trend will persist until the end of next week for most regions, reports the Mirror.

Meanwhile, freezing rain is set to wreak havoc across northern England, particularly in the Northeast.

The Met Office has issued a stark warning on its website: "The weight of the ice can sometimes be heavy enough to bring down trees and power lines, and the glaze of ice on the ground effectively turns roads and pathways into an ice rink. The freezing rain can also prove extremely hazardous for aircraft."

They added: "Freezing rain is more common in other parts of the world, for example in the USA, where weather systems produce a lot of freezing rain. These are called ice storms, and if enough glaze collects on trees or power lines, the weight of the ice can cause them to break and can result in disruption on a large scale."