New weather maps show a snow bomb from the Arctic smashing into the UK, sparking a big freeze.
Forecasters have predicted wintery weather to hit the UK in a fortnight, which could cause snow and see temperatures drop to -11C.
Snow depths could reach up to 50cm in parts of Scotland such as the Cairngorms and the Highlands. Other parts of the country could see between 15cm and 30cm.
In Northern England, snow depths could reach 10cm and in Wales, 5cm. The rest of the UK is likely to see some snow but not more than 5cm.
Temperatures during this period will be very low. Much of England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be between 0C and -3C with the north reaching to -5C.
But Scotland will be extremely cold, with lows of -11C in places and other parts of the country hitting between -5C and -10C.
Met Office five-day forecast
Tonight will be largely dry with clear periods and a frost across southern England, parts of south Wales and the west of Scotland. There will be cloudier skies elsewhere giving the odd spot of drizzle.
Thursday will see sunshine across the south of England becoming increasingly confined towards the southwest. There will be some sunny spells across western Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It will be mainly cloudy on Friday with patchy light rain or drizzle. Across the weekend it will be brighter with cold and windy weather spreading from the north and snow showers in places.
Met Office long-range forecast (Jan 15-24)
It will turn colder, with brisk northerly winds developing across the UK, bringing a risk of snow showers in the north.
Temperatures will remain low and there will be a marked wind chill in the north. There is a risk of unsettled weather pushing in from the south through this period, which could lead to a band of snow and sleet where it meets the colder air across the country.
There is an increasing risk of something potentially disruptive at some point in this period. Widespread frosts continue to be a feature by night, with a risk of ice in places.
