Britain is set for a crisp and sunny few days with mild 60F highs into next week

Frost and sunny spells are on the horizon as the nation enters a second national lockdown, giving people across the UK a chance to enjoy crisp autumnal walks as a break from staying at home.

It came as temperatures are plummeted to lows of 33F (1C) and frost and foggy conditions rolled in overnight.   

But the crisp weather heading into the weekend will make it ideal for wintry walks permitted as exercise under the government’s new lockdown guidelines. 

Although the rules warn people ‘should minimise time spent outside your home’, individuals can exercise or visit outdoor spaces with one other person from another household.

An early morning cyclist was pictured wheeling through Richmond Park in south west London as the sun broke over the trees

The Malvern Hills in Worcestershire were also covered in fog as the sun rose this morning, with the caps of trees poking out from the thick mist

The Malvern Hills in Worcestershire were also covered in fog as the sun rose this morning, with the caps of trees poking out from the thick mist

A deer in Richmond Park was also seen tucked into a patch of frosty bracken as, like most of the UK, he woke up to a cold and frosty morning

A deer in Richmond Park was also seen tucked into a patch of frosty bracken as, like most of the UK, he woke up to a cold and frosty morning

Walkers were up with the lark near Reading as they headed out for a walk in Clayfield Copse, wrapping up warm against the cold weather

Walkers were up with the lark near Reading as they headed out for a walk in Clayfield Copse, wrapping up warm against the cold weather

For the second lockdown no time limits on exercise have been announced, so walkers can make the most of the crisp autumnal weather before it turns wet and rainy into the weekend.  

Nicola Maxey, a spokesperson for the Met Office, said: ‘We’re looking as sunny spells today across much of of the country.

‘We’ve got high pressure in charge which brings settled period of weather so dry, sunny spells, a few light winds around.

‘It is colder we had a cold night overnight last night, and were looking at a fairly chilly day today so most places will just be in double temperature figures. 

‘London will probably going to see 55F (12C) but if you go up to northern England like Leeds and Newcastle it will be about 51F (11C).

‘The settled weather brings those nice bright, sunny, crisp autumnal days, and then the colder temperatures with the clearer skies.’

Much of the UK woke up to a blanket of icy frost this morning, with spectacular sunrise scenes snapped by early morning walkers.

The deer in London’s Richmond park also appeared to enjoy the early morning autumnal sunshine as one with impressive antlers was photographed emerging from a patch of frost-covered bracken. 

While an early morning cyclist was pictured wheeling across the misty park as the sun broke over the trees. 

Walkers were also up with the lark in Clayfield Copse, Reading, where they spotted wrapping up walm as they walked past frost covered fields and through woods filled with golden coloured autumnal leaves.  

The fog cleared over the top of the Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, but heavy fog took a while to clear from the lower ground

The fog cleared over the top of the Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, but heavy fog took a while to clear from the lower ground

The sunnny spell is set to continue for the next few days as the nation enters the second coronavirus lockdown tomorrow

The sunnny spell is set to continue for the next few days as the nation enters the second coronavirus lockdown tomorrow

Frosty fields were also seen in Clayfield Copse near Reading, where nearby woods were filled with autumnal colours

Frosty fields were also seen in Clayfield Copse near Reading, where nearby woods were filled with autumnal colours

The crisp autumnal weather is set to continue over the next three days with sunshine in the south

The crisp autumnal weather is set to continue over the next three days with sunshine in the south

A deer was photographed running through the morning mist in Richmond Park in London this morning as the cold snap bites

A deer was photographed running through the morning mist in Richmond Park in London this morning as the cold snap bites

The cold snap looks as if it easing as parts of the UK are set to be bathed in autumnal sunshine today, with the sunny spell expected to continue in the south but take a turn in the midlands and northern areas as the coronavirus lockdown comes into effect on Thursday.

The wintry weather will be one more reason for the nation to stay at home as steps are taken to reduce the spread of coronavirus. 

The Met Office say the skies are set to turn cloudy and windy with with frost and fog patches rolling in over night. 

The fog could hang over parts of the UK for a while, with some patches slow to clear, while the northwest can also expect a little rain and drizzle. 

Friday and Saturday are likely to be changeable with the Met Office forecasting mostly light winds and a mix of sunny and cloudy spells.

 Ms Maxey added: ‘As we go into tomorrow the temperatures remaining fairly chilly but plenty of sunshine around, but we’re going to start seeing some cloud in the north west with rain and drizzle building up in north west Scotland. That will slowly push down across the country. Again temperatures

‘Overnight we will certainly see temperatures edging below freezing before daytime tomorrow where we will again see temperatures just creeping into double figures. 

‘In London anything from 50F to 55F (10-13C) and in northern England something similar 53F to 55F (12-13C) around for Leeds, York and Manchester.

‘On Friday we’re going to start seeing temperatures coming back up a little bit. We’ve got a southerly airflow coming in from the south. 

‘Temperatures will start picking up as we head towards the weekend and this high pressure will move out of the way, so turning by Friday perhaps to more average weather for this time of year.

Flood warnings remains in place across England and Wales, with people urged to take action following warnings issued for the River Ouse in Yorkshire.  

The Met Office warned the sunshine will not last as a cold snap with fog and rain is on the way towards the end of the week

The Met Office warned the sunshine will not last as a cold snap with fog and rain is on the way towards the end of the week

The early morning sunlight casts a warm glow on this dog walker, but the sunny spell is not set to last when the nation goes into lockdown on Thusday

The early morning sunlight casts a warm glow on this dog walker, but the sunny spell is not set to last when the nation goes into lockdown on Thusday

Walkers also made the most of the dawn in London's Richmond Park where the mist took a while to clear after the sun rose this morning

Walkers also made the most of the dawn in London’s Richmond Park where the mist took a while to clear after the sun rose this morning

York was hit by heavy flooding yesterday after two weeks’ worth of rain fell in 24 hours on Monday before more rainfall yesterday caused water levels to rise further.

The river burst its banks leaving streets underwater, dozens of vehicles stranded and furniture floating around the The Kings Arms pub. 

There is set to be more rain into the weekend with outbreaks of rain on Sunday easing the cold snap and turning the weather milder, which could see highs of 60F into next week.

Ms Maxey said: ‘On Saturday themilder air will have pushed across most of the country. Somewhere like Snowdonia and north Wales could see temperatures in the high teens by Saturday.

‘The day will have a chilly start again, and there’s still a chance of seeing a bit of frost and fog around first thing in the morning, with sunny spells around with a few showers.’

A man looks out of the window of the Kings Arms in York on Tuesday after the river Ouse burst its banks following heavy rain

A man looks out of the window of the Kings Arms in York on Tuesday after the river Ouse burst its banks following heavy rain

This car park in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, was also flooded after the heavy rain fall this week. It prompted a farmer to drive through the water in a tractor

This car park in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, was also flooded after the heavy rain fall this week. It prompted a farmer to drive through the water in a tractor

It comes as researchers in the USA found that the cold weather has no impact on the spread of coronavirus.

Researchers found that changes in temperature and humidity account for just three percent of COVID-19 transmission. 

The team, from the University of Texas at Austin, says the findings provide evidence that warmer and cooler temperatures do not have any impact and the reason the virus has been so transmissible is almost entirely due to human behavior.

This includes travel and time spent away from home, which are responsible for up to 60 percent of the disease’s spread.