A fortnight's freeze will see temperatures hit -15C
It is news that will send a chill through the millions struggling back to work today - Britain is on course for its coldest winter in 30 years.
Temperatures are expected to fall as low as -15c (5f) this week and the freeze could last at least another week after that.
Up to eight inches of snow fell across parts of the country this weekend.
That sinking feeling: A narrow boat becomes a victim of the weather as it sinks on the Calder Hebble Canal in Mirfield in sub-zero temperatures today
The Met Office said the chill could be as long and as drawn out as the Winter of Discontent in 1979, one of the coldest on record. Back then a series of strikes paralysed the country, heavy snow repeatedly fell throughout the January and blizzards, black ice and snowdrifts caused chaos into February. It was the coldest winter since the notorious freeze of 1962-1963.
Last night Met Office forecaster Byron Chalcroft said: 'It's quite possible that this could be one of the coldest Januarys on record.
'It could be as bad as it was in 1979. It will be prolonged and looks as though it will last for the next 15 days at least.
'It may be that we get to January 17 and we see it becoming a little less cold, but at the moment it doesn't look like there's going to be a return to milder weather.'
Sub-zero temperatures, snow and the threat from icy roads are likely to plunge the country into chaos today as millions put their faith in the transport network. Motoring organisations have already dubbed today 'Black Monday' amid fears that they could be called out to a record number of breakdowns in a single day.
They have also predicted that the freeze could destroy many of the country's deteriorating roads by turning potholes into craters.
AA president Edmund King said roads in some places were 'quite literally crumbling to pieces'.
Blocked: A snow plough making its way on the closed A66 Trans-Pennine main carriageway today
'They have been patched up in the past but the water from the rain, sleet and snow has now seeped in beneath the cracks, frozen and expanded,' he said. 'As a result the surface has risen and the cracks have become worse, making the roads increasingly dangerous.'
Up to 12 inches of snow is expected in places this week, with the North-East hardest hit. The region was buried beneath nine inches of snow yesterday.
The snow is welcomed by this keen skier, who made the most of the snow as he took to Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, the highest point in South Wales
Hiker Christine Harris was stunned to find a snow-covered step ladder, used to help walkers get over a fence, while with her husband Roy on the summit of Plynlimon in Mid Wales
Across large parts of Wales and up to the North-West in Bury and Rochdale up to eight inches of snow fell, while the Pennines was hit by up to six inches.
Heavy snow is also expected across London and the South-East over the next two days.
From tomorrow onwards, parts of Scotland and northern and eastern England could see up to six inches of snow. In Braemar, Aberdeenshire, the mercury plummeted to -17c (1f). The Met Office also warned of icy roads across the UK and heavy snow in Yorkshire, north-east England and parts of Scotland.
A man and a woman were killed after their car hit a lorry in subzero temperatures at South Molton, near Barnstaple in Devon, on Saturday.
Another man died after his Citroen crashed on the M55 motorway near Blackpool.
Towering: A walker admires a giant wall of icicles in Teesdale, Cumbria
It is news that will send a chill through the millions struggling back to work today - Britain is on course for its coldest winter in 30 years.
Temperatures are expected to fall as low as -15c (5f) this week and the freeze could last at least another week after that.
Up to eight inches of snow fell across parts of the country this weekend.
That sinking feeling: A narrow boat becomes a victim of the weather as it sinks on the Calder Hebble Canal in Mirfield in sub-zero temperatures today
The Met Office said the chill could be as long and as drawn out as the Winter of Discontent in 1979, one of the coldest on record. Back then a series of strikes paralysed the country, heavy snow repeatedly fell throughout the January and blizzards, black ice and snowdrifts caused chaos into February. It was the coldest winter since the notorious freeze of 1962-1963.
Last night Met Office forecaster Byron Chalcroft said: 'It's quite possible that this could be one of the coldest Januarys on record.
'It could be as bad as it was in 1979. It will be prolonged and looks as though it will last for the next 15 days at least.
'It may be that we get to January 17 and we see it becoming a little less cold, but at the moment it doesn't look like there's going to be a return to milder weather.'
Sub-zero temperatures, snow and the threat from icy roads are likely to plunge the country into chaos today as millions put their faith in the transport network. Motoring organisations have already dubbed today 'Black Monday' amid fears that they could be called out to a record number of breakdowns in a single day.
They have also predicted that the freeze could destroy many of the country's deteriorating roads by turning potholes into craters.
AA president Edmund King said roads in some places were 'quite literally crumbling to pieces'.
Blocked: A snow plough making its way on the closed A66 Trans-Pennine main carriageway today
'They have been patched up in the past but the water from the rain, sleet and snow has now seeped in beneath the cracks, frozen and expanded,' he said. 'As a result the surface has risen and the cracks have become worse, making the roads increasingly dangerous.'
Up to 12 inches of snow is expected in places this week, with the North-East hardest hit. The region was buried beneath nine inches of snow yesterday.
The snow is welcomed by this keen skier, who made the most of the snow as he took to Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, the highest point in South Wales
Hiker Christine Harris was stunned to find a snow-covered step ladder, used to help walkers get over a fence, while with her husband Roy on the summit of Plynlimon in Mid Wales
Across large parts of Wales and up to the North-West in Bury and Rochdale up to eight inches of snow fell, while the Pennines was hit by up to six inches.
Heavy snow is also expected across London and the South-East over the next two days.
From tomorrow onwards, parts of Scotland and northern and eastern England could see up to six inches of snow. In Braemar, Aberdeenshire, the mercury plummeted to -17c (1f). The Met Office also warned of icy roads across the UK and heavy snow in Yorkshire, north-east England and parts of Scotland.
A man and a woman were killed after their car hit a lorry in subzero temperatures at South Molton, near Barnstaple in Devon, on Saturday.
Another man died after his Citroen crashed on the M55 motorway near Blackpool.
Towering: A walker admires a giant wall of icicles in Teesdale, Cumbria
