The UK could be hit by a second blast of cold air from the Arctic, potentially dumping more snow on Britain next week.
Forecasters say that while the current big chill – which has seen temperatures plunge to -17C in some areas – will have run its course by the weekend, the cold could sweep back in in a matter of days.
Meteorologists say that before then some parts of the UK could see more than 7 inches of snow potentially causing more traffic chaos after the ‘Troll of Trondheim’ battered the country.
The Met Office has issued four warnings for snow and ice on Thursday and Friday for most of the east coast, as well as in large parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Snow sits on a fence in Burravoe, near Brae in the North Mainland of Shetland, after heavy snowfall on December 13
Snow covers the ground in Castle An Dinas in Cornwall on Wednesday, December 14, after an Arctic blast swept into the country
The Met Office has three yellow weather warnings for snow and ice in place across large parts of the UK
People in the snow at Parliament Square in London on Wednesday, December 14
Meteorologists say that ‘brisk’ winds in the coming days will also make freezing temperatures feel up to 5C colder than they actually are.
The service says that winds streaming from the north will leave a bitter chill, and despite the mercury rising above 0C for most parts of the country, few areas will actually feel that warm.
Over the weekend things are expected to become much milder, with temperatures potentially reaching double figures in some southern areas – forecasts have suggest highs of 13C in London at the start of next week, compared to 1C today.
It would make a noticeable change from the last week which has seen the longest period of cold weather since February 2021, although any respite could be short lived with the return of more air from the poles early next week.
In recent days there has been chaos on the roads of London and the South East as heavy snow fall and treacherous ice blocked roads and caused cancellations to trains and flights.
And things could get worse before they get better, with sleet and snow forecast in the north on Friday.
A combined snow and ice warning has been issued for northeastern parts of England as well as the east coast of Scotland and the Highlands. This will remain in place until 11.59pm on Thursday.
The Met Office has warned: ‘Wintry showers will affect many areas of northern Scotland and parts of northeast England, though tending to become fewer in number from later on Thursday.
‘A few centimetres of snow are likely to accumulate at low levels with the potential for as much as 15-20 cm over higher ground. In addition, ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces, mainly where some of the showers fall as sleet close to coasts.’
An ice warning is in place across coastal areas of Norfolk, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire until midday on Thursday.
The Met Office said: ‘Showers of sleet and snow will continue across coastal parts of eastern England, especially this evening and the early part of the night.
‘These showers will fall onto surfaces that are below freezing, leading to some slippery conditions where surfaces remain untreated, due to either ice or a slight dusting of snowfall.’
A snow plough sits in queuing traffic on the A944 in Aberdeenshire on Wednesday, December 14
A crashed car sits abandoned at the side of the road on the B3224 on Exmoor, Somerset, on Wednesday, December 14
A major incident was declared for the Shetland Islands as thousands of homes have been left without power amid plummeting temperatures. Pictured: Broken power lines in the Shetlands
In Northern Ireland a yellow warning is in place for ice until at 11am on Thursday morning, with forecasters saying ‘occasional wintry showers will lead to ice forming on untreated surfaces’.
The Met Office said: ‘The showers mainly of rain or sleet around the north coast throughout, and on the east coast on Thursday morning, but otherwise falling as snow with accumulations of 1-3 cm in a few places.’
This will be followed up by a yellow snow and ice warning across large parts of central and southern Scotland, as well as the Highlands from 6am on Friday until 11.59pm the same day.
The Met Office has said: ‘Outbreaks of sleet and snow will spread across much of southern, central and western Scotland through Friday. 1-3 cm of snow is likely in places below 200 metres, with 5-8 cm possible above 200 metres south of the Central Belt.
‘Over high ground north of the Central Belt, there is potential for 10-20cm to accumulate above 200 metres through Friday. Later in the day, snow at low levels will likely turn to rain.
‘In addition to the snow, sleet or rain may fall onto frozen surfaces leading to some icy conditions.’