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Brrrr.... West Midlands temperatures set to plummet overnight

It's set to be a freezing few days in the Black Country and Staffordshire as temperatures plummet before the start of winter.

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The mercury is predicted to fall as low as -6C on Monday and Tuesday nights as a cold snap marks the final few days of autumn, according to the Met Office.

Midlanders will need to wrap up warm after the sun sets this evening, when a starry but cold night will replace the clear blue day, before commuters wake to sub-zero temperatures and icy cars tomorrow.

The whole of the Black Country and Staffordshire is forecast to drop below freezing, while the lowest temperatures are likely to be felt in Birmingham and Sandwell.

After a shivering start, Tuesday is set to be another fine and dry day with blue skies and sunshine, before again turning cold but clear as the night moves in across the region.

Scotland and Northern Ireland will unusually fare slightly better, with expected lows of 2C or 3C.

Temperatures in the West Midlands are expected to rise slightly as meteorological winter begins on Thursday, when most of the area should stay dry despite plenty of cloud cover.

Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: "Tonight will be cold with almost a repeat performance for temperatures on Tuesday.

"There's an area of high pressure that has developed across most of the UK over the weekend and that is due to stick around for the rest of the week.

"That will move southwards, so it will not be as cold in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

"Most places will stay dry until the weekend when there will be a slight risk of rain."

December 1 marks the beginning of meteorological winter, which lasts until February 1.

Ladbrokes bookies were offering odds of 2/1 that a new record will be set for the coldest night of 2016 before next Sunday with it only offering evens odds that the temperature drops to -10c or lower.

It is also offering 6/1 odds of a white Christmas in Birmingham, compared to 2/1 for Edinburgh and Glasgow, 3/1 for Newcastle and Belfast, 4/1 for London and 5/1 for Liverpool and Manchester.

Jessica Bridge, of Ladbrokes, said: "Winter's coming, and the odds are falling as quick as the temperature's dropping, leaving punters already dreaming of a White Christmas."

Weather boffins have predicted that early winter will be colder than normal, but that temperatures are likely to be warmer than usual towards the end of our coolest season.

Professor Adam Scaife, head of long-range prediction at the Met Office, said : "The stratosphere, tropics and Arctic sea ice are all trying to push our weather towards becoming colder over the next few weeks.

"Although it is not guaranteed, our long range predictions and those from other forecast centres suggest an increased risk of cold weather patterns early this winter."

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