A number of national severe weather warnings have now been issued with 'Arctic' conditions set to sweep across the UK in the coming days.
A cold snap bringing heavy snow ice to parts of the country is expected to take hold from this evening (Wednesday).
Met Office yellow warnings for snow and ice covering parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the east coast and South West of England have been issued.
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Forecasters are warning temperatures could plummet to as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius in some isolated spots by the end of the week.
Whilst the Met Office says that 'showers will turn more wintry with an increasing risk of snow as the week progresses, particularly in coastal areas or over higher ground.'
The warning issued for northern Scotland, now in force until midday on Friday, warns that 'blizzard conditions are likely.' Though it could feel pleasant for some in other inland areas of the UK at times, forecasters say.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Steve Willington, said: “As an Arctic maritime airmass settles across the UK temperatures will fall with widespread overnight frosts, severe in places, and daytime temperatures only a few degrees above freezing.
"However, the cold air from the arctic will also bring brighter conditions, with some dry, sunny spells, particularly away from the coast and where winds are light it could feel pleasant in the sunshine. Some patchy freezing fog is also likely. ”
He added: "More severe weather warnings may be needed as we head through the week. Keep up to date on the latest weather warnings on our website."
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a Level Cold Weather Alert covering England from this evening through to Monday, December 12.
They say people with pre-existing medical conditions 'should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you' and that they should try to heat rooms they mainly use such as the living room or bedroom to at least 18C.
It is currently unclear how long the unusually cold spell will last but similar conditions are expected into next week.
The Met Office's Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Jason Kelly, said: “Through the weekend and into next week cold weather will continue, with an ongoing chance of wintry showers, mainly for coasts, and freezing fog patches inland.
“An area of low pressure may then threaten southern and southwestern parts of the UK through mid-week.
"Confidence in the exact track of this system is low, but should it push precipitation into the UK, then this would readily turn to snow, with a lower chance of freezing rain.
"How far north the milder air gets is also open to a lot of uncertainty, but for now, many central and northern areas are likely to remain in the Arctic airmass."
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