YET more snow will blanket Britain this week - but we've got to endure a battering of heavy rain and gales first.

       Sudden gusts and torrential downpours will sweep across the UK today before temperatures plummet once again.

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       The village of Hanging Houghton in Northamptonshire with a covering of overnight snow Credit: Bav Media 7

       A swimmer goes for a dip in Ullswater Lake in Cumbria surrounded by snowy mountains Credit: LNP 7

       A car navigates the Buttertubs Pass in North Yorkshire Credit: PA

       While it may feel a little warmer throughout the afternoon - perhaps even into the teens in the south west - Tuesday will be "drab and damp" with "murky conditions" for most.

       There will be some drizzle and strong breezes in excess of 40mph, primarily in the north west, where it will turn heavy later.

       Winds will then pick up into the evening, becoming "squally" overnight, forecasters warn.

       These will bring "hail, thunder and increasingly wintry" weather, particularly across Scotland.

       Thanks to the deluge, three flood alerts are in place across the Midlands and Norwich where residents are being told to "be prepared" and plan car journeys carefully.

       Into Wednesday, there will be "lively showers" which will turn snowy over the hills.

       This will eventually make its way down to low levels by the end of the day, leaving a crisp layer of the white stuff.

       Temperatures will drop to -6C in northern Scotland and -3C across rural parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with potentially several inches of snow.

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       And there will be even more powder on the way from Thursday, "affecting most places overnight".

       The four-day frozen flurry is expected to last until at least Saturday - but could extend into mid-December.

       During this time, forecasters reckon the UK could see several more inches, with the night-time mercury a bitter -6C.

       Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: "Temperatures up and down this week.

       "A weather system, with some milder air tucked in, could bring wet weather hitting the colder air on Wednesday night and Thursday that might have a bit of snow mixed into it."

       Another forecaster added of the conditions from December 4 to 13: "A mainly fine and dry start on Saturday with showers in the west, these potentially wintry in the northwest.

       "Heavy rain will spread across most areas throughout the day which will likely fall as snow over Scottish high ground. It will remain windy with coastal gales in the west.

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       "Temperatures will be near normal in the southeast and cold in the north.

       "Continuing unsettled through the rest of this period with spells of wet and windy weather, interspersed with brighter interludes accompanied with showers.

       "The wettest conditions are likely to be in the west and northwest, and drier in the south towards the end of the period.

       "Often windy with a risk of gales at times, especially in the north and northwest."

       The wintry weather comes after killer Storm Arwen caused chaos across the UK.

       Scotland and northern England bore the brunt of the chilly snap, but those further south have seen some icy conditions.

       And yesterday, temperatures plunged to a bone-chilling -8.7C in Shap, Cumbria - making it the coldest night of the season so far.

       The "Arctic shot" has pushed bookies to slash the odds of a white Christmas, and this year going down as the coldest winter on record.

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       Rosanna Christian ,12, enjoying wintry day at Warley Woods Park in Birmingham Credit: SWNS 7

       Pals enjoying sledging on a wintry day at Warley Woods Park in Birmingham Credit: SWNS 7

       Snow falls in Westoning, Bedfordshire Credit: Stephen Huntley/HVC

       Snow falls in across the UK following Storm Alwen