Freezing weather forecast for the weekend - this is when temperatures are set to plummet

As the weather system has headed out into the North Sea, it has pulled colder weather in behind it.

And the Met Office says the big chill is set to last into next week.

The North East forecast says today, Friday, January 22, is set to be mainly dry, with sunny spells for most of the region . It will be a cold-feeling day, with a strong breeze which will become lighter as the afternoon draws on.

Tonight is predicted to be mainly dry and frosty overnight, with a widespread frost forming and a minimum temperature getting down as low as -5 °C.

Saturday starts rather cold and frosty, with some wintry showers persisting over the Pennines and showers perhaps spreading east later.

Tomorrow night will be another cold and frosty one.

Sunday to Tuesday will remain cold with light winds, sunny intervals but also wintry showers on Sunday and Monday and a risk of overnight frost and ice.

The weather is set to turn wet and windy on Tuesday, with the next few days seeing unsettled weather with strong winds and frequent outbreaks of rain across much of the country, particularly in the north.

This will likely fall as snow over high ground and may also at times fall to lower levels too, especially over northern and eastern areas.

Saturday:

Morning: Sunny intervals with gusty breeze. Minimum temperature -1C, feeling like -4C.

Afternoon: Mostly sunny, becoming cloudier later. Minimum -1C, feeling like -3C.

Evening: Clear and breezy. Minimum temperature -1C, feeling like -5C.

Sunday

Morning: Initially cloudy, clearing later. Minimum temperature -1C, feeling like -5C.

Afternoon: Sunny intervals. Minimum temperature 3C, feeling like 1C

Evening: Cloudy. Minimum temperature -1C, feeling like -5C.

Monday

Morning: Sunny intervals. Minimum temperature 0C, feeling like -4C.

Afternoon: Sunny intervals. Minimum temperature 4C, feeling like -1C.

Evening: Cloudy. Minimum temperature 0C, feeling like -3C.

Tuesday:

Morning: Cloudy. Minimum temperaure -1C, feeling like -5C.

Afternoon: Cloudy. Minimum tempeature 3C, feeling like 0C

Evening: Showers. Minimum temperature 1C, feeling like -2C.