Britain has been gripped by a bitterly cold spell of weather that brought thermometers crashing down to -6C in parts on Monday night.
Relentless snow showers and thick ice along Britain’s east coasts have caused major travel disruption today with flights cancelled and multiple pile-ups on motorways.
Temperatures are expected to nosedive even further tonight, with bone-chilling lows of -15C and snow “pretty much anywhere” predicted before the weekend.
Long-range forecasters suggested that the savage chill expected to bring the UK’s coldest week of winter could remain locked-in for weeks.
The Met Office has now confirmed a “prolonged cold period” with below-average temperatures that could last “into March”.
The forecaster has issued a series of severe yellow weather alerts, warning of “icy stretches” and up to four inches (10cm) of snow over higher ground above 200m.
One alert issued today warns of extreme winter weather causing travel delays and an “increased risk of injuries” across Cornwall, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Warnings for snow and ice came into effect at 11am today and will remain in place across Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall and north-west England until 12pm on Friday.
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The chief forecaster for the Met Office said: “Further showers of snow, sleet and hail will affect western parts of the UK, these frequent in western Scotland and the north of Northern Ireland, where thunder is also possible.
“1-3 cm of snow may accumulate at low levels inland, and perhaps 5-10 cm on hills above 200m.
“Showers will gradually fade overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, with icy stretches developing as skies clear, particularly where earlier snow has partly melted.”
A strong jet stream is allowing bitter Arctic and Canadian winds to buffet the UK, according to forecasters.
This is causing average temperatures to dip to levels not seen since the winter of 2010/11 – the worst cold snap in eight years, forecasters say.
Hannah Findley, forecaster for The Weather Channel, expects temperatures to plummet to lows of -15C ahead of the weekend.
Public Health England (PHE) with the Met Office has issued a level-3 cold weather health alert across England until Friday.
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It states: “Prolonged periods of cold weather can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very old or those with chronic diseases.”
James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said the oncoming assault of heavy snow and freezing temperatures could plague Britain for the rest of February.
He said: “A barrage of snow events awaits us throughout the rest of this month with the first notable snow events expected next week.
“There is a risk for a total whiteout across the country as a number of major snow events hit our shores, this risk really kicks in at the start of next week.”
Alex Burkill, forecaster for the Met Office, agrees that wintry conditions are expected to continue into the weekend and perhaps into March.
"There are indications of quite a prolonged cold period," he said.
"As we go through the next 24 to 48 hours, it's going to stay cold, and we are going to see some snow and pretty much anywhere in the country could see something."
In Scotland and northern England, temperatures could fall to lows of -11C tonight before a “milder blip” on Wednesday and Thursday, he said.
He added: “The cold weather is likely to return as we go towards the weekend.
“Really much of February and perhaps even into March it is going to stay on the cold side, so temperatures generally below average, with further frosts and also the risk of rain, sleet and snow as well.”
Bookmaker Coral has cut the odds on this winter ending as the coldest on record in the UK from 3-1 to 6-4.
“This is turning out to be a long winter this year and with temperatures continuing to drop this week, the odds suggest we could be set for a record cold season,” a spokesperson said.