Mild conditions will be shoved aside by a bitter Arctic blast set to sweep the country towards the end of the week.

Thermometers will plummet into minus figures across the UK by the weekend with lows of minus 7C (19.4F) forecast in parts.

Experts have also sounded the alarm bells for a powerful storm gearing up to rip through Britain from mid-week.

Gales are expected to top 70mph in exposed northerly regions with more than four inches of rain forecast across the region.

Heavy showers will clash with freezing winds triggering widespread snowfall and blizzards ahead of the weekend.

The Met Office warned to wrap up for bitterly cold weather with icy conditions threatening to hold out until Christmas.

Forecaster Steven Keates said: “By the end of the week we are back to square one and into a Poor maritime airmass making it feel very cold again.

“Strong winds could touch gale-force at times and there will be a significant windchill, this will make it feel very raw.

“From Friday we expect more snowfall in the north which could be heavy at times, wintry showers are also likely to start moving southwards into the weekend.

“Coastal regions could see some not insignificant amounts of snow which could fall to lower levels, the general consensus is we will remain in this colder pattern through the month.”

Gales and torrential downpours threaten storm chaos across swathes of the country through the latter part of the week.

A violent Atlantic system will batter Scotland and the north from Tuesday lunchtime before unleashing a 12-hour assault across Britain.

Winds are expected to reach 50 to 60mph around coastal regions with gusts of 70mph forecast in the Scottish Highlands.

Mr Keates added: “It is going to be a very unpleasant few days with quite prolonged rain in the north from Tuesday lunchtime which could bring more than 100mm [four ins] over the Scottish Highlands.

“There will also be some quite strong gales across the northern half of the country before a risk of widespread windy weather for 12 hours between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

“We are looking at gusts of between 50 and 60mph although 70mph gusts are not out of the question, it will be pretty grim with the cold and the snow.

“Many places will feel quite unsettled, Arctic air then moves back in and by the end of the week we return to a much colder set up which, factoring in a strong northerly wind, will make it feel very cold.

“We are back into car-scraping territory by the end of the week and there will be a significant risk of ice.”

It will follow a relatively mild start to the week with mild winds from the south pushing temperatures into double figures in parts.

The mercury will fall to around minus 7C (19.4F) in the north by the end of the week with lows of freezing or below more widely.

Chilly winds could make it feel close to minus 10C (14F) over high ground with ‘feel-like’ temperatures of minus 6C (21.2F) in the south.

Daytime temperatures will widely struggle to rise above 5C (41F) on Friday with numbing winds making it feel below freezing, The Met Office said.

Britons have been warned not to be lulled into a false sense of security b milder weather today (Monday) and  tomorrow.

James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said torrential rain will turn widely to snow from Thursday.

He said: “This week will start on a milder note, but we expect some rather windy weather and heavy rain for many by midweek.

“From Thursday will see the rain turning to snow across some large swathes of the country due to an area low pressure clashing with bitterly cold Arctic air.

“There will be some heavy snow with accumulations to lower levels into the weekend, this will also be accompanied by windy conditions, blizzards and potential snow drifting.

“This will pave the way for further snow and cold in December and in the run up to the festive period.”

Bookmaker Ladbrokes has slashed the odds on December turning out to be the coldest ever from 6-4 to 5-4 with 6-4 from 2-1 on the chillest winter.

Spokesman Alex Apati said: “The weather might be freezing but the odds definitely aren't and as the temperatures drop, we've once again been left with no choice but to slash odds on December being a record breaker.”

Coral has cut the odds on a White Christmas in the capital to 5-1 from 6-1 with Aberdeen the favourite at 7-4.

Spokesman Harry Aitkenhead said: “Any sign of snow in December always raises hopes for a White Christmas and we’ve seen a number of bets on London having snow on Christmas Day for the first time in years.”

In another twist to Britain’s frenzied weather swathes of the country are warned to expect thick fog over the coming mornings.

The Met Office said winter mists will make for difficult rush-hour driving conditions with warnings likely to be issued.