Weather maps have turned a shade of icy blue, signalling a sharp fall in temperatures as a winter freeze threatens large parts of the UK later this month, with some areas forecast to plunge as low as -5C.
Latest model projections from WXCharts reveal that cold air will spread south across the country in the days following Christmas, with overnight frosts becoming increasingly widespread, reports Express.co.uk.
The chilliest conditions are anticipated once high pressure settles, allowing clear skies and calm winds to drive temperatures sharply lower at night.
Rural areas within these counties could see temperatures drop to around -5C, with even lower values possible in sheltered glens and valleys.
Parts of Scotland appear to be most vulnerable to the deepest cold, while northern England is also likely to experience a pronounced chill.
But, the Met Office forecast is more measured than some of the colder model maps currently circulating.
In its outlook covering Friday, December 19 to Sunday, December 28, the Met Office says the period will begin unsettled for many, with showers or longer spells of rain, some of which could be heavy at times.
A gradual change is expected as the weekend progresses.
Scotland and Northern Ireland are forecast to see conditions improve first, with rain clearing and more settled weather developing.
Further south, wetter conditions may linger for longer before high pressure becomes more dominant.
Over the following week, the Met Office predicts that high pressure will become more widely established across the UK.
This will bring lighter winds and clearer skies, although isolated coastal showers could still occur.
While daytime temperatures are expected to fall back closer to seasonal averages rather than plunge dramatically, the Met Office warns that overnight frosts and morning fog are likely to become more common.
Fog could be slow to clear in some areas, potentially causing travel disruption during the morning commute.
So while weather maps suggest a notable -5C freeze in the coldest spots, official forecasts point to a cold but largely typical late-December pattern, with frosty nights replacing the recent unsettled spell rather than an extreme cold snap.