UK weather forecast: the Met Office has forecast temperatures are going to fall on Wednesday (Image: WXCHARTS/GETTY) Wednesday will begin with milder temperatures but the mercury will nosedive by the end of the day. By Thursday, winter conditions will grip the UK, with ice predicted to be the “bigger problem”. There will also be bouts of snow and sleet, which will stretch from the north of Scotland throughout central England and Wales, with temperatures in rural areas to plunge to “well below” freezing. Related articles Car WARNING: Seven things that YOU need to check on your car before... BBC weather: Arctic air BLASTS Britain bringing SNOW and ICY roads Commenting on the conditions, Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: “Colder weather is most definitely on the way. “Over the rest of this week temperatures will be falling and we will see frosts returning.” A “band of rain” will start to “push its way into Northern Ireland and southern Scotland by dawn” on Wednesday, Mr Deakin predicted. The weather expert said: “Ahead of that we have got the milder air with the cloudy conditions and temperatures staying well above freezing. READ MORE: Met Office long range forecast: Major RISK of snow and ice? UK weather forecast: Mr Deakin shows the colder front moving in on Wednesday (Image: METOFFICE) UK weather forecast: ice is likely to be a 'big problem' (Image: GETTY) “But just behind this band of rain, it will start to turn a little bit colder.” The rain will make its way south-eastwards across the country, exposing some eastern areas to their first showers of the year, according to Mr Deakin. He said: “A few hours of rain which could be on the heavy side in places.” However, Mr Deakin explained throughout Wednesday Britons will experience a drastic temperature change as a cold weather front moves in. By Wednesday afternoon, the mercury will plummet after a relatively mild morning causing “heavy snow showers” in northern Scotland, the Met Office has forecast. READ MORE: TORRENTIAL RAIN and SNOW to hit Britain this week - UK cold weather Related articles UK weather forecast: Britain to be BLASTED by FREEZE as SNOW hits BBC Weather: Europe braces for more HEAVY snow and flash FLOODING UK weather forecast: temperatures will be 'well below' freezing in rural areas, the Met Office said (Image: METOFFICE) UK weather forecast: motorists should take care on the roads (Image: GETTY) Mr Deakin said: “It will be turning more and more wintry even at a relatively low level. “And we could see some sleet and snow for a time in the central belt of Scotland. “Certainly heavy snow showers across northern Scotland through the early hours of Thursday morning. “And as the showers head south even across parts of England and Wales there could at least temporarily be a bit of sleet and snow.” The “bigger problem”, though, is “likely to be with ice”, Mr Deakin warned. He said: “Temperatures down to freezing or below - certainly in rural areas well below.”All rights reserved for this news site express.co.uk and under his responsibility