-5C Arctic blast to put Britain in deep freeze
AN ICY blast is set to plunge Britain into a four-day freeze from today as temperatures drop as low as -5C (23F).
It will be coupled with 60mph gales while snow showers are set to cause travel chaos.
The chilly spell will also see black ice and freezing fog sweeping across the country.
The week will get windier and wetter as it goes on, with sleet and snow predicted for Scotland and the North.
Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: “Widespread frosts and freezing fog are expected, with Monday morning down to -5C in Scotland and -3C in northern England. But the jet stream will strengthen, bringing high rainfall totals into Thursday in the West.
“Gales or severe gales with gusts of up to 60mph in the West are expected into the weekend, with further heavy rain, and snow in the North. It looks potentially fairly windy at times, with showers and snow mostly in the North on hills.”
Forecaster John Hammond said: “There is a significant chance of disruptive snowfall as moister air arrives from the West from midweek. Colder weather will arrive from the North, with east coasts prone to the odd wintry shower.”
The Met also refused to rule out Britain enjoying a white Christmas.
A spokesman said: “Christmas looks changeable, with showers or longer spells of rain, possibly wintry over higher ground.”
This comes after Ladbrokes slashed the odds on a white Christmas in London to 5/1.
A spokesman said: “Punters dreaming of a white Christmas may well get their wish this year.”