The UK is to be hit by an Arctic blast as snow sweeps across parts of the country, and forecasters have revealed the date it is likely to happen.
It is believed that the final weekend of January will bring with it a great deal of snow, and millions will see the white stuff.
Snow will be forced south from The Highlands in Scotland, and some forecasters suggest the coldest weather will not be felt for another week-and-a-half.
Meteorologist Jim Dale said: "Winter is not over".
Jane Barlow
"As we get towards the end of the month - the coldest on average parts of the year - what we're seeing is the high pressure pulling away south and west, allowing a north-easterly air stream to come in," he told The Express.
"That may well start to bring some snow events towards the latter stages of the month - so that last week of January."
WX Charts suggest snow will fall on Friday, January 28, and will sweep downwards to Newcastle by 6pm.
Wintry showers will then be seen in East Anglia on the following day in the morning.
Large swathes of the country between Aberdeen and Hampshire will see snow on Sunday 30 January, it is predicted.
The Met Office's long range forecast from the end of January into February says: “This period is likely to see a gradual transition to more unsettled conditions.
“Heaviest precipitation is likely to occur across the northwest, particularly later in the period, whilst drier than average conditions are more likely to prevail in the southeast, particularly earlier in the period.
“Spells of strong winds are likely, mainly in the north.
“Temperatures likely to be slightly above average overall. Some colder interludes are still expected though, bringing a risk of occasional snow, most likely over northern hills".
Niall Carson
Coral back this January to be the coldest on record in the UK, with odds being offered of 4-5.
Odds of 1-2 have been offered by Coral for snow to fall in London this month.
“January is proving to be bitterly cold now as we head towards the second half of the month and temperatures are going to drop so low that we now make it odds on for the UK’s coldest first month of the year to be recorded,” said Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead.
“We didn’t get the White Christmas that Londoners dreamed of but we think snow is on the way at last and it is very short odds indeed for the white stuff to fall this month,” added Aitkenhead.
