The first few days of the meterological winter continue with cloudy and dry conditons. But as we approach the end of the week, we will see a big change to much colder and windy conditions, as winds swing round to a northerly direction, bringing bitterly cold air from the arctic and a risk of snow and gales. For today though, it's a quiet picture generally - with high pressure centred over southern Britain. Although it will be mainly dry, sunshine will be in rather short supply, with a mainly cloudy day across the UK, though the cloud may thin to allow hints of brightness, or if you're lucky, some sunny spells. Approaching Atlantic weather fronts across northwest Scotland will bring outbreaks of light rain here later and there's a chance of some drizzle across western hills and coasts elsewhere. Temperatures around average for the time of year, reaching 7-9C generally. It will turn increasingly windy overnight across northern Scotland, as a cold front continues to slowly slide southeast, bringing with a band of rain which will reach the central belt by dawn. Elsewhere a mainly dry but cloudy night and with light winds across central and southern Britain, dense fog patches will form in places.So a potentially foggy start to Tuesday across parts of The Midlands, East Anglia and SE England, with dense fog patches lingering through the morning in places. Otherwise remaining generally cloudy but dry across England and Wales. A cold front, bringing a band of rain, will continue south across Scotland during the day, followed by colder and brighter conditions across northern Scotland. The rain reaching the far north of England in the evening. Temperatures similar to today's values, reaching 7-9C generally, though chilly towards SE England and East Anglia where we hang on to the foggy conditions, perhaps 4-6C here at best.Wednesday sees the cold front across the north continue south across England and Wales, the rain band along it weakening it does so, reaching southern England late afternoon. Turning brighter but colder from the north following the cold front, but remaining dry apart from wintry showers across the far north of Scotland - where it will be very windy too.After a dry and bright start across southern areas on Thursday, turning quickly unsettled from the north, as a band of rain and strong winds sweeps south, reaching southern England in the evening. The band of rain could even have some snow on the back-edge - which may settle on higher ground. Following the rain band will be much colder and brighter conditions as the winds turn northerly, with snow showers packing in across northern areas and down coasts exposed to the wind. The northerly wind will strengthen to gale or severe gale force towards the evening across northern and eastern areas, bringing a risk of blizzards conditions in any snow showers and drifting of snow.Friday will be a rather cold but bright or sunny day, with a distinct wind chill in the north to northwesterly wind, which will blow in snow showers across coastal areas exposed to the wind, with a few making it inland - such as through the Cheshire Gap. Though showers will become less frequent through the day, as high pressure builds from the west and winds ease.The weekend sees high pressure return across the south, bringing mainly dry, bright but chilly conditions across England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland looks to be cloudier and damp at times, with snow over the hills.