Britain is about to freeze in the first real blast of winter with Arctic gales and widespread snow set to hit within days.
Britain could see up to four inches of snow and temperatures dropping as low as -10C as an arctic blast sweeps through Europe.
Friday 13th is expected to be the coldest day of winter so far with strong winds and heavy rain threatening a stormy start to the week before the cold bites towards the weekend.
Parts of Britain are on alert for up to four inches of snow as bitter winds from the North Pole push temperatures below -10C (14F), which is colder than Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Europe has already seen more than a dozen people die from cold weather in recent days with ten people dying in Poland on Friday after temperatures plummeted to -20C (-4F) on Saturday.
The bitter Arctic conditions follow an unseasonably mild weekend which saw thermometers in double figures around the UK with highs of 12C on Saturday.
The Met Office have warned to brace for a “big change in the weather” after a relatively calm and settled start to the New Year.
Strong winds and heavy rain will shake things up over the next couple of days before the cold Arctic air sweeps across the country.
