MINUS 20C? Britain faces coldest winter for 100 years as Big Freeze follows floods with wind so strong it blows water upwards

Temperatures to plummet to minus 3°C this week and could fall as low as 20°C in December



Fears that snow blizzards could close roads and shut down rail networks as winter takes hold



But torrential rain which has deluged country and swamped St Asaph in North Wales will finally ease


Britain will shiver tonight as temperatures plummet in the first taste of what promises to be one of our coldest winters for a century.



The cold snap is expected to last until the end of the week, creating dangerous conditions on the roads and adding to the misery of those already battling floods.



Temperatures could fall to as low as minus 3 ° c (27 ° f) in some places, with snow already falling in the Pennines. In Saltburn, North Yorkshire, northerly winds have become so strong that they are pushing water back up a cliff.

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Water pouring over the edge of Huntcliff in Saltburn, North Yorkshire, was pushed back over the edge by strong northerly winds Walkers wrap up warm as they wander across the beach in front of the dramatic scenes of the water falling over the cliffs

The torrential rain which has deluged the country for the last week is expected to ease at last but the clearer skies, coupled with northerly winds, will send the mercury plummeting. Tonight’s cold snap heralds a freezing winter ahead with long-range forecasters warning that temperatures could fall to as low as minus 20 ° c (4 ° f) in some areas through December and January.



Now the rain has gone the UK is expecting much colder weather and snow. A walker enjoys the view from Blencathra in the Lake District

Snow has fallen on mountains and other areas of high ground but it is expected to fall in other areas towards next week

Hikers make their retreat downhill making fresh tracks in the snow on Blencathra as they take in the clear Arctic air view from the mountain Snow on the hills: While much of Britain suffers flooding there was snow on the northern Pennines in a sign of the cold snap to come

Snow flurries are expected in some parts of the UK by Friday It is expected to freeze across most of the UK by Friday morning It will feel much colder in many parts as temperatures fall

They fear snow blizzards could close roads and shut down rail networks across the country as winter takes hold.



The cold, drier spell that starts tonight could be only a brief respite from the rain. More heavy showers are expected to return early next week, causing more misery to those trying to combat flood damage.



‘The weather will be much colder and drier across most of the UK today,’ said Meteogroup forecaster John Lee.

‘Northerly winds and clearer skies will make it feel much colder and we can expect widespread frost overnight when temperatures drop below freezing.



‘Wintry showers will bring sleet, snow and hail to higher ground tomorrow and there’s a risk of heavy snow showers in northern Scotland on Friday.

Local authorities say they are prepared for a harsh winter and have taken steps to avoid a repeat of two years ago, when a lack of gritters and snowploughs caused roads and transport networks to grind to a halt.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, said councils had stockpiled 1.3million tons of road salt and had ‘hundreds’ of gritters on standby.



‘Keeping the country moving is a community effort,’ said Peter Box, chairman of the LGA’s economy and transport board.



‘Councils will be treating as many roads as they can and have also installed and filled thousands of extra grit bins for people living in side streets, villages and housing estates.



‘They’ve given equipment to parish councils, community groups and snow wardens who have volunteered to grit hard-to-reach areas, and farmers will be helping out on country lanes.



‘Highways, street-cleaning and park staff could also be drafted in to help clear snow and ice around places like shops, schools and sheltered accommodation.’



He said councils would be using social media, including Twitter feeds and Facebook pages, to keep people up to date about how weather is affecting their area.

It's not all doom and gloom: A pair of canoeists make their way around Linlithgow Loch to the west of Edinburgh during an impressive sunset last night

A man walking his dog near the loch create a silhouette against the oranges and yellows of the sunset

Three women take an evening stroll before darkness falls

A row of Victorian houses in Whitby, North Yorkshire, has been condemned after their gardens fall away sparking fears that the foundations would give way after heavy rainfall