Monday morning's rush hour is set to be a miserable one for commuters in Essex if the forecast for the coming few days and weeks is accurate.
Heavy rain is predicted on Sunday evening (October 12) and into the early hours of the next day. Monday will stay wet and windy.
The changeable weather could also herald a sharp dip in temperatures as we head into November, with some forecasts of snow in some parts of the country as early as next month.
The Met Office says the rest of October in the county will remain unsettled with temperatures around normal or a little below normal with a risk or fog and mist.
The unsettled conditions are then due to continue into the early part of November.
Potential for a severe weather event on Sunday Night/Monday morning. Risk of 30mm+ locally. Lots of model uncertainty.
— Essex Weather Centre (@EssexWeather) October 10, 2014
Although forecasters at the Met Office say that it is impossible to predict seasonal and long term forecasts with any sort of accuracy, Essex County Council has already started preparations for winter.
The county's 60-strong fleet of gritters were out in force this week to test drive their routes in preparation for plummeting temperatures.
The vehicles began their pre-season checks on the busiest roads in Essex last Saturday (October 4) and will be seen again this evening (October 11).
Essex County Council's highways department, which is in charge of keeping the roads safe during cold and icy weather, also said some of the gritters will briefly be spreading salt to make sure they are working properly.
