A cold snap sweeping the UK this week, which will see the mercury plunge below freezing, could last into February, the Met Office has said.
The mild temperatures enjoyed so far this winter are set to take a turn as a blast of Arctic air sends the mercury plummeting.
Forecasters have warned that snowfall is possible across the country but is most likely to fall in northern parts.
Grahame Madge, of the Met Office, said by Thursday, temperatures in London and across the UK will drop to mid-single figures.
Over the weekend during the night the mercury is likely to fall below freezing across most of the country.
“It’s likely to remain on the cold side for some days,” Mr Madge said.
Mr Madge said that a “change in character” of recent weather patterns had brought the wintery weather spell.
"We’ve got low pressure over Scandinavia and high pressure out to the west and that’s encouraging a northerly flow - the air is coming from much further north,” he said.
He said he expected there to be some snow and rainfall in patches as the weather moved in from Wednesday.
A similar weather pattern to what caused the Beast from the East, which brought ice and snow to the UK, last year was observed in December.
However, Mr Madge said it does not always mean the same extreme conditions will reach the UK.
“We are in for a colder period over next week or 10 days and possibly to the end of winter,” he said.
“But there’s no indication (the weather) will come from Siberia like it did last time.”
