THE MET Office have revealed the exact date that the white stuff will return after an unseasonably warm New Years.

       Forecasters have warned that chilly winds, thunder, lightning, ice and SNOW BLIZZARDS are on the cards.

       6

       Snow is on the cards after an unseasonably warm winter Credit: Getty 6

       Six inches are expected to fall in some areas. Credit: Getty Images - Getty 6

       Weather warnings are in place this week Credit: Getty

       From tonight snow will begin to fall - first of all hitting Scotland - before moving south later in the week.

       Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud said: "We are going to be losing the sub-tropical air flow and replacing it with some things from the north.

       "Temperatures will definitely go back to average, with a return of frost and some snow in the forecast across north areas and across the hills."

       Weather warnings are currently in place for wind and snow on Wednesday, January 4 and Thursday, January 5 for most of Scotland.

       The warning covers a North Eastern area of Scotland, including Orkney.

       Rain and hill snow could also edge "south across northern UK" further on in the week, the Met Office adds.

       Most read in News

       DANGER ZONES England and Wales’ crime capitals revealed - how dangerous is YOUR area

       ROT IN HELL I was forced to listen as my daughter was murdered - her killer deserves HELL

       'SWEET DREAMS' Dad's tribute to son, 5, found dead after mum 'ran into street shouting'

       BANNED OLD DUKE? Andrew 'could see Duke of York title axed if he loses sex abuse case'

       Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge told The Sun: "Snow will mostly fall across the high ground of Scotland, and places 200m above sea level and above.

       "It will make its way further South late Monday into Tuesday, and so places like Leeds might get a little bit of snow - but it probably won't last too long, because it's going to be quite sunny.

       "Other than that, it's mainly higher ground further north.

       "It's definitely going to turn colder and by Tuesday could hit the exact average temperatures for this time of year - it'll just be a big difference compared with the very mild conditions we've seen over the last few days.

       "It will also be pretty windy, with strong Northerly winds so it'll feel colder than the predicted temperatures, which will be around eight or nine degrees."

       It comes after this year saw a record-breakingly mild New Year's Eve and hottest ever New Year's Day, thanks to warm subtropical air flowing from the Azores, temperatures topped 16C at a time of the year when they usually reach around 7C.

       The Met Office said that 16.3C had been reached in St James's Park, central London, meaning it is "likely to be confirmed" as a record maximum temperature for any New Year's Day.

       But now, Brits should brace for a cold spell.

       Met Office Chief Forecaster, Steve Ramsdale, said: "We’re now past the peak of the high temperatures over the UK of this current spell.

       "Whilst it is expected to stay mild for the rest of the weekend, we are seeing a trend downwards in temperatures with notably colder weather coming into the north from early on Monday.

       "This colder air is expected to push southwards into Tuesday bringing wintry showers and frosts. Wind and snow warnings have now been issued for parts of Scotland associated with this change.

       "This cold spell is temporary before we see a return to weather conditions coming from the Atlantic, bringing further bouts of strong winds and rain to the UK."

       6

       Three members of the She Swims Falmouth group pose for the photographer after a New Year's Eve swim Credit: Getty 6

       Stunning pink sunset behind Shrimp Terrace in Sheerness, Kent this evening Credit: Alamy 6

       The New Year has gotten off to a warm start

       Fish rain down from the sky in Texarkana, Texas, in freak weather phenomenon