Icy temperatures and bitter eastern winds are set to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

The "mini Beast from the East", which has sent temperatures plummeting in the region this week, will continue to keep us shivering for at least the next seven days.

It comes as people woke to ice-covered cars and roads as temperatures dropped below freezing.

On Wednesday, snow covered some of the higher peaks in North Wales.

According to forecasters, conditions beyond next Wednesday are less clear, although they have said there is a chance of a milder spell of weather at the start of December.

In the meantime, temperatures will remain firmly in single figures with ice cold gusts between 20mph and 30mph making it feel even colder.

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The chance of any more snow over the next week also looks slim as the region mainly experiences a week of dry and cloudy weather.

A Met Office spokesman said: "Many places will be dry early next week, but often with large amounts of cloud around.

"The west and southwest of the UK will then likely turn more unsettled as we finish November, with these conditions possibly progressing northeastwards.

Snow covers Snowdonia on November 21. Image: Hadyn Iball
Icy temperatures are set to continue

"It will generally remain on the cold side for the time of year, with the risk of some frosty nights and also some transient hill snow.

"Into early December, there is a lot of uncertainty in the forecast, as there is the chance of either a short-lived milder spell with winds from the west, or perhaps colder but drier weather if the winds turn more northerly or northeasterly."

WEATHER. Sunrise over Hawarden on a cold and frosty morning as temperatures hit freezing for many parts of the region. Photo by Ian Cooper
The sunrise over Hawarden on November 22

The country’s weather normally originates in the west, but the unusual strength of polar high pressure has forced winds to blow from the east.

These will extend across the Atlantic to reach northeast Canada in the coming days so, in effect, the UK’s air flow is in reverse.