SNOWCATION
UK weather – Arctic blast will batter Britain bringing HEAVY snow and freezing -17 temperatures as dramatic forecast map reveals
BRITAIN is braced for an Arctic blast this week which will bring blanket SNOW before a chilling -17C deep freeze according to the Met Office.
The latest weather forecasts show snow falling all over the UK on Wednesday and Thursday as temperatures plunge.
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It comes after Continental Europe was hit by a "once in 30 years" big freeze as ten feet of snow brought chaos and at least 21 were killed.
The UK has dodged that Eastern chiller killer — but now a separate blast is on the way from the frozen Pole north of Iceland.
Wintry showers set to hit the North of England and Scotland from Wednesday to Friday could also sweep further south along with bitter 50mph gales.
John Hammond, chief meteorologist at told The Sun Online: "On Wednesday, the North West Highlands and Grampians are most prone [for snow].
"Later in the day and overnight, the Southern Uplands, Pennines, Cumbrian Fells, Peak District, the high ground of Northern Ireland (especially Sperrins and Antrim Hills), Snowdonia and the Cambrain Mountains, could see a light covering.
It will feel notably different from the first half of January as we switch to a longer spell of cold weather from Wednesday.
Bonnie Diamond, The Met Office
"There’s the chance of a dusting on the North York Moors and maybe a few flakes in Norfolk by Thursday morning, but by then, many places will be bright, crisp and frosty.
"By Friday, as a low pressure system spreads rain from the west, there’s a chance of it turning to snow over the Western Highlands, Cumbrian Fells and the Welsh Mountains. Details on how far east this then spreads are not clear."
The Weather Company has predicted a deep freeze of -17C some time after the weekend.
Brian Gaze, director and meteorologist for The Weather Outlook, said: "The cold spell in Europe has been caused by an area of high pressure close to the UK blocking the flow of Atlantic weather systems into Europe.
"That pattern has opened the gates for very cold Arctic air to plunge southwards over much of the continent.
"During the coming days the UK will get a taste of the colder weather as high pressure areas become centred further west in the Atlantic."
Met Office forecaster Bonnie Diamond added: "It will feel notably different from the first half of January as we switch to a longer spell of cold weather from Wednesday."
Snow showers are likely on higher ground in the northern half of the UK and could also hit low-lying areas on Thursday and Friday.
The South will be generally fine and dry this week but will not escape the cold weather for long, with widespread frost predicted across the whole country on Thursday night.
Ms Diamond said the weekend may bring a brief return to milder conditions before another freezing blast next week.
The Met Office's warns late January and early February have "an increased likelihood of cold weather being established across all of the UK, with temperatures continuing a downward trend to become cold or very cold.
"This would bring a greater risk of snow, ice and widespread frost, particularly across northern parts of the country."
Forecaster Steven Keates said: "The evidence points to the longest cold spell since March."
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And bookies Coral make it odds-on at 4/6 this winter will be the coldest on record.
It is offering 1/3 London will see snow before the end of January.
Last spring Britain was hit by a monster Beast from the East storm with snow that crippled the country for days on end.
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