Brits are being warned to brace for brutally low temperatures that could dip to -10C as an Arctic freeze hits before a week of snow.
It has been a cold February so far especially for the north of the UK and it is to get colder before there is some slight respite over the weekend with milder weather, the Met Office said.
The worst of the temperatures again are set to be in Scotland going into Friday as well as rural and isolated spots.
Then maps from WXCharts show that there is expected to be steady snowfall throughout next week, mainly in Scotland, although some could also land in northern England during.
Up to 20cm of snow could fall in Scotland with the heaviest in midweek and also the following weekend.
Before that people will need to wrap up warm on Friday with the Met Office saying that temperatures could fall to -10C in Scotland while maps from Netweather show minimum temperatures plummeting to well below freezing throughout much of the UK.
Met Office Senior Operational Meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth warned temperatures are likely to plunge to -10C in "rural sheltered spots" of Scotland.
Rural areas further south towards England, Wales and Northern Ireland could freeze in temperatures as low as -5C, triggering a frosty start to Friday morning.
Ms Shuttleworth told the Express : "Temperatures are expected to drop to -10 C in rural sheltered spots of Scotland by the morning.
"Further south rural mins will be widely -2 to -5 C across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
"The cold air across the UK is moving in from the Atlantic this paired with the light winds and clear skies for many means it will be a widely frosty start to Friday."
Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir similarly painted a freezing Friday.
She said: "The air is turning steadily colder.
"The key weather feature going into Friday will be how cold it is, with a widespread frost and the risk of some ice.
"Thursday into Friday, there is a driving wind. A few showers come in across west Wales and Northern Ireland, and further showers are likely across the western northern periphery of Scotland.
"Inland though it is going to turn really cold, bitterly cold.
"In the countryside, temperatures could be as low as -4C to -10C across the highlands of Scotland.
"There will be a risk of ice first thing, but most areas will get away with a dry and bright morning with some sunshine."
UK forecast for the next 5 days
Today:
Odd early showers, mainly across northern Scotland, wintry here. Many other areas starting fine and frosty, then keeping plenty of sunshine. This, along with lighter winds, should make it feel less cold. Northwest UK clouding up, gales and rain later.
Tonight:
Southeastern areas mainly dry; a few clear spells, perhaps a touch of frost. Rain and gales in northwest UK giving way to showers, as the rain sinks into central areas.
Saturday:
Rain turning heavier for a time across parts of southern Scotland, northwest England and Wales. Bright intervals and blustery showers further north. South and southeast England mainly dry until evening.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Unsettled; mild with wind and rain on Sunday, although probably more showery for northern Scotland. Colder with sunny spells and showers on Monday, further rain arriving Tuesday after a frost.
