Brits are set to face freezing temperatures with lows of -6C and around 12 centimetres of snow as Arctic air in the north gradually takes a grip over the whole country.
There was a north-south divide on Tuesday with freezing weather in Scotland and milder temperatures in southern England.
Snow fell for much of Tuesday in the north east of the UK from Arctic air, while the rest of the country was influenced by a high pressure system coming in from the Atlantic.
Images of Coldstone, Aberdeenshire, showed a very wintry scene of fields with several inches of snow.
The bad news is that the Met Office is stating that the cold air “will win out eventually” during the end of the week.
On Wednesday morning it is set to be another cold start in the north of Scotland with sub zero temperatures and ice that could cause traffic disruption - while it could be as high as 10C on the south coast.
The Met Office is predicting showers for most of the country during the day with temperatures in the south getting into the mid-teens but by Wednesday night the weather will start to get more wintry.
Maps from WXCharts show temperatures getting as low as -4C on Thursday and could dip to -5C over the weekend with widespread frost across the UK.
Snow is also set to continue in Scotland with around 12 centimetres likely to fall and it will stretch further south with a covering of snow possible in the north of England.
Met office forecaster Susan Powell said: "Through Wednesday evening but particularly overnight into Thursday the colder air mixes in with our weather fronts and it looks like we could see some significant snow for northern Scotland once again.
"A risk of ice here for first thing Thursday certainly and potentially that wintry weather affecting the central belt of Scotland through the morning rush hour.
"We will see the showers thinning out as they sink south through the course of the day but still the chance of wintry element across the Pennines into Thursday afternoon.
"Sunshine for many come Thursday afternoon but it will feel chilly especially in contrast to the start of the week. Then cold air right across the UK for Friday I think there will be quite a bit of sunshine, wintry showers in the north and east."
There is some uncertainty over a low pressure to the south of the UK which could bring very wet weather and wind to the south coast on Friday while if it pushes further north it could lead to more snow.
UK forecast for the next 5 days
Rain or showers for most
Today:
Outbreaks of rain across northern Scotland. Elsewhere, a mixture of sunny spells and blustery showers, some heavy with a risk of hail and thunder. Gales around some coasts.
Tonight:
Rain or showers across Scotland moving southwards, turning to snow on hills. Clear spells central parts, with rain for a time in southern England. Windy with coastal gales.
Thursday:
Sunny spells and wintry showers across many parts of the UK; showers heavy at times and most frequent in north. Cloudier in far south at first with outbreaks of rain.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Wintry showers across central and northern areas on Friday, perhaps some rain into southernmost counties for a time. Most places dry on Saturday but turning wetter and milder on Sunday
