Brits are set for at least eight inches of snow to fall as more weather warnings are issued by the Met Office in an Arctic freeze this week.
Temperatures have tumbled again after a mild start to the New Year with the mercury possibly dropping as low as -10C.
Amber and yellow weather warnings have been issued across the country. Scotland is under a severe amber alert with heavy snow forecast.
Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: ”The Amber National Severe Weather Warning (NSWWS) runs from 3pm today to midnight as snow showers across the north Highlands become heavy and extend across the Grampians by this evening.
“Accumulations of 10 to 15 cms of snow are possible in places in a short space of time and strong to gale force winds could cause the snow to drift. Isolated thunderstorms are possible with lightning strikes an additional hazard. Showers will turn more to rain or sleet around coasts later with ice developing on untreated surfaces.”
A number of snow and ice NSWWS have been in place across parts of southern England, North Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland with cold air continuing to push across the UK.
The southwest of England has been given a yellow warning for snow and ice, from the Met Office, which runs from 6pm today until 12pm tomorrow
It states: "A few snow showers will affect these areas overnight and into Wednesday morning. Accumulations of a couple of centimetres are likely at low levels, with some of the higher ground seeing as much as 5-10 cm."
People are told to expect: "Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces. Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths. Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services."
An ice warning is in place at the same time across Southeast England.
Across most of Wales, the West Midlands, Derbyshire, West and North Yorkshire and the Northwest is another snow and ice warning set to come into force from 12pm today.
Southwestern parts of Scotland and all of Northern Ireland is impacted by this warning.
The weather boffins said: "Snow showers will affect these areas through Tuesday afternoon and continue in many places overnight, and into Wednesday morning.
"Accumulations of a couple of centimetres are likely at low levels, with higher ground anywhere is the region potentially seeing 5-10 cm, and up to 15 cm for the higher ground in northern Northern Ireland, and mid/northern Wales."
Maps from WXCharts show that there could be more than eight inches of snow falling in Scotland in the next couple of days and there will be flurries of one or two inches across the country.
The snow will continue to fall later in the week with more than 10 inches expected for Scotland on Thursday and Friday.
At the same time, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a cold weather alert due to the risk of snow and icy conditions that could have a serious impact on health.
The agency has urged people to try to stay warm and look out for those most vulnerable to the risks of cold weather as temperatures are set to plummet across the country.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “Cold weather can have a serious impact on health, particularly older people and those with pre-existing health conditions, as it increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections."
For ater this week, the Met Office forecast reads: "Wintry showers in parts of the north Thursday, mostly dry elsewhere. Rain in the west Friday spreading further north and east on Saturday. Cold at first, becoming milder later."
