Brits have been warned to brace for 'freezing rain' as the mercury plunges to lows of minus 9C in days with snow flurries expected in the north.
Just days before Christmas the mercury is set to plummet with sub zero temperatures and forecasters have gone on to issue a severe weather warning for ice for a huge swathe of Scotland.
Experts also predict that snow will fall in some northern regions amid hopes that Brits might wake up to a white Christmas on December 25.
On Thursday many areas are set to see a band of rain, while snow will fall in parts of Scotland, particularly the higher regions.
There will also be fog patches with temperatures expected to stay cold for most places.
And there will be bitingly cold low temperatures for more remote regions with some predictions as low as minus 9C for elevated regions of Scotland by Christmas Day.
The Met Office also extended a yellow weather warning for ice early on Thursday with more areas told to expect 'freezing rain and icy patches.'
Forecaster are warning of travel disruption in the morning because of the freezing conditions along with a chance of injuries from slips and falls.
Bus and train services could also be delayed or cancelled with some road closures expected tin the affected regions.
The warning is in force until 10am on Thursday and is largely centred around the centre and north of Scotland.
Experts predict that in the area of the warning zone snow could fall at times, particularly in the Highlands above 400 metres.
Elsewhere Brits can expect rain across England and Wales but some brighter weather later in the day before heavy rain and snow falls on Friday in places.
UK Weather Forecast
Today:
Cold and cloudy across Scotland with early rain turning heavier and more widespread later with some hill snow in the north. Elsewhere, early rain in the west moves east across England and Wales, brighter weather following into the west later.
Tonight:
Cloudy with spells of rain and hill snow over Scotland. Elsewhere, drier with some clear spells but also risk of fog patches, mainly eastern England and Northern Ireland.
Friday:
Scotland cold and windy with early rain and hill snow sinking south into far northern England later. Elsewhere, early fog patches then rain, heavy at times, spreading from the west.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Cold with a few wintry showers in the N. Milder with rain at times in the S. In between, some rain, sleet or, mainly hill, snow. Breezy in places.
