New weather maps predict a surge of icy conditions across the UK next week, with temperatures expected to plunge to 0C by the morning of Thursday, May 22. According to WX Charts maps, a sharp drop is forecast around 7am, with northern Scotland bearing the brunt of the cold. Areas just south of Inverness could see lows of 0C, while Aberdeen is expected to reach 1C and Edinburgh 2C. The chill won't be confined to the north of the UK, however.

Parts of the Midlands could dip to between 2C to 3C, and even areas as far south as London may wake to temperatures as low as 2C. Birmingham is another city set to experience around 3C, marking an unseasonably cold turn for late May, especially following this week's much warmer highs of around 23C.

Another map from Netweather also shows the return of the cold on Thursday around 6am and predicts 0C in the Scottish Highlands just south of Inverness, close to Cairngorms National Park, and not too far from Aviemore and Newtonmore.

This is shown through the lighter blue and white shades in the middle of Scotland, indicating the minimum temperature on the map to be 0C.

The Netweather map also forecasts lows of 2C around London and 3C as far south as Sussex, East Sussex, and parts of Kent. Parts of the Midlands and Manchester are also expected to hover between 2C and 3C.

The Met Office's longe range weather forecast from May 19 to May 28 reads: "Most of the UK will be fine with sunny spells during the first half of this period. 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. 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."