Britain is set to be hit with snow flurries and a bone-chilling -10C freeze in just days, forecasters say.
The icy blast is coming with a warning from forecaster Jim Dale that the first half of February is the "coldest" part of the year.
Mr Dale, meteorologist at British Weather Services, warned that the whole of the UK is likely to see sub-zero temperatures.
By Friday, lows of -10C will be hitting parts of Scotland.
Weather forecaster WXCharts has made also said Scotland will face temperatures as low as -8C on Friday.
The rest of the UK is likely to feel like -4C accounting for wind chill, the forecaster adds.
Mr Dale told Express.co.uk many parts of Scotland on Wednesday will remain sub-zero.
He said: “So they're going to see a proper winter day - sub-zero or around freezing all day, and not getting very far from that mark through the course of the day.
"And it will only get steeper as time goes on through Friday.
"As that front comes south, we start to see frost start to appear further South tomorrow night, and definitely Thursday.
"We're all in frost by Thursday morning - not necessarily some of the coastal fringes but generally -1C and -2C in most places."
He added: "The main thing is that when we get to Friday, we could well be seeing -10Cs in the highlands.
"-7C, -8C, -9C, and -10C will be the diversity across in the valley areas - so proper cold.
"We'll all be cold on that Friday morning."
Mr Dale confirmed that there may be some snow falling in the Highlands.
He said: "The snow will increase over the mountains, but they've got a good covering already and that will continue for the rest of the week."
At the weekend the next weather system arrives - bringing with it more snow.
Mr Dale continued: "That again will deliver a bit of snow to the Highlands. That's where the action is - the Highlands and the Grampians.
"Further south, it's going to turn to rain progressively."
Mr Dale added: "It is, on paper, the snowiest month of the year.
"And normally the first half is the coldest. So we're getting what it says on the packet."
A spokesman from the Met Office added that the UK is likely to see snow and ice on Wednesday morning.
He said: "In the northern part of the UK on the other hand it will be colder with windy, showery conditions.
"These showers will be wintry in Scotland and over high ground in the north and west.
"Scotland will see widespread gales and wintry conditions on Wednesday night.
"Accumulating snow and ice will be possible in hilly areas overnight in the north and west on Wednesday."
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
Bright and mild in the far south ahead of a band of cloud and patchy rain moving southeastwards. Brighter but colder in the north with wintry showers, especially across Scotland where heavy with hail, thunder and accompanied by gales.
Tonight:
Occasional rain affecting southern England. Cold further north with wintry showers, before more persistent rain and hill snow arrive across Scotland. Gales in the north, severe on some coasts later.
Thursday:
Rain clearing southern England, then southern and eastern parts bright. Rain and hill snow across Scotland will be replaced by wintry showers. Windy in the north, severe gales at first.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Friday fine and dry for many after a frosty start. Turning wet and windy across the northwest later, this then spreading to all parts over the weekend and turning milder.
