Weekend of snow and blizzards ahead
Wintry weather is returning with a vengeance on Thursday, heralding blizzards and snow showers in parts of the country, according to forecasters.
Ahead of Friday's big chill, bitter Arctic gales and rain threaten to bring more misery to areas already hit by flooding earlier in the month.
A forecaster for MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said Scotland and parts of southern England were being hit by gusty winds on Thursday.
He warned: "We will have some sweeping snow showers in Scotland, Ireland and England.
"The main danger is as we move towards tomorrow - an area of snow will again sweep down from Scotland.
"Most places will have a thin covering of snow and north Wales will get quite a bit of snow tomorrow."
As temperatures plummet over the coming days, the forecaster said overnight temperatures in Scotland could reach "minus double figures".
Generally in England and Wales they are set to hit a low of around -3C (26.6F) on Friday night.
"A biting northerly wind will be coming in with the low temperature, adding to the wind chill factor," the forecaster said.
He had a warning for motorists taking to the roads for the weekend. "Tomorrow night is going to turn very icy," he said.
