A Himalayan jet stream could cause temperatures to plummet after five days of snow.
The country has basked in mild conditions this autumn but weather maps suggest everything will change next Wednesday (November 24) with flurries falling in northern Scotland, The Mirror reports.
Snow will creep south and spread across the UK, with icy winds meaning this could be the coldest winter for ten years, with temperatures of -17C not ruled out.
READ MORE: Alex Beresford issues chilling snow warning amid change which will 'cut temperatures in half'
James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, told the Express: "Cold conditions in the coming days will pave the way for a number of widespread snow events from the last week of November into the start of December.
"During this period, it is going to turn markedly colder, and with a drop in solar activity, we are looking at a potential mini ice age winter.”
The Himalayan jet stream is on its way as a result of extra rainfall in the Indian ocean, said Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin.
He said: "There may be some snow in places next week.
"Enhanced rainfall over the Indian ocean has the potential to impact on the jet stream which is meandering above the Himalayas.
"This could force the jet stream further south bringing cold air southwards and a meeting relatively warm system across the western Pacific."
He warned Brits that they should batten down the hatches for a sudden change in the weather.
He said: "It is a big change that we are pretty sure will happen next week.
"The European weather model generates a high-pressure system closer to the UK and that opens the door to the northerly winds and quite a cold spell."
Then into December and more freezing air heading for the UK could see the temperature fall to -17C in some parts, it is claimed.
Before that, the snow will sweep in from Iceland and Greenland midway through next week.
There could be up to 1cm of snow in Scotland and Newcastle in the early hours of next Wednesday according to WXCharts with around 2cm of snow also landing during the day and heading as far south as Manchester.
The cold and blustery conditions get worse as the week goes on as 5cm of snow will fall on Thursday in Scotland and parts of northern England while there is a mixture of sleet and snow on course for the Midlands
There is more heavy rain and snow to fall from Friday through to Sunday, according to the forecast.
Met Office five-day weather forecast
Today
Rain across northern and western Scotland, heavy on hills. Elsewhere, cloudy in the south and west with a little drizzle at times, especially over hills, whilst sunny spells develop in the east. Very mild, especially parts of eastern Scotland.
Rain persisting across north and west Scotland, becoming heavier then moving southeast later. Mostly cloudy ahead of this, with some light rain/drizzle in the west and clear spells in east.
Saturday
Band of rain moving south, reaching Wales and the Midlands by evening. Dry, mild and often cloudy ahead of this. To the north, sunny spells, scattered showers and noticeably colder.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday
Largely dry at first with some sharp overnight frosts in the north. On Wednesday rain will sweep south introducing colder weather to the north with showers turning wintry here later.
