A massive 383-mile wall of snow in the coming days is set to hit Britain as a vast swathe of Scotland and northern England could be covered in up to 5cm to 10cm of snow by Tuesday night.
This is as the UK receives a glancing blow from a low-pressure system raging in from the north of the country.
The Met Office has issued a number of weather warnings for snow, ice and high winds for almost all of Scotland, northern England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, with 12 regions on a yellow weather warning alert come January 16.
As the cold winds approach, the Scottish Highlands will face temperatures of -10C and the cold weather could set up ideal conditions for snow also in the south of England towards the end of next week.
Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: “It is going to be feeling pretty chilly in the north of Scotland. Throughout the week we are going to see more and more snow showers and warnings, towards the end of the week we will probably see an accumulation.
“The warning is of 2cm to 5cm of snow, throughout the week there is the possibility we will see a build-up of snow.”
As temperatures drop to freezing, an amber health alert has been issued. An amber alert means that cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time, with the potential for the whole population to be at risk, according to a government website.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “The temperatures we will see leading into the week ahead can rapidly have a serious impact on the health of those over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions as it increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.
“It is therefore vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the cold weather next week.”
A Met Office spokesperson said: “Cool and largely dry conditions will persist for much of the UK over the coming days, with below-freezing conditions overnight, and daytime temperatures often not getting above 5°C for many.”
They added: “From Sunday and into the start of next week, a plunge of cold Arctic air will move in from the north, dropping temperatures further and increasing the risk of wintry showers, especially for those in coastal areas in the north. As we move through next week, cold conditions are likely to persist, with an increasing chance of significant snow and ice for some, though details are still being determined.”
The weather experts also issued safety advice in case you find yourself isolated because of the snow.
It includes “turning off electrical heaters and fires” at night to avoid a fire risk and wearing layers of loose-fitting clothing rather than bulky clothing to stay warm.
More safety advice can be followed on the Met Office website.
