Britain faces Arctic blasts and possible White Christmas

An Arctic blast is expected to bring more snow and bitterly cold weather to Britain this week, with forecasters predicting there might even be a white Christmas.

By The Newsroom

Published 14th Dec 2010, 08:42 BST

Updated 14th Dec 2010, 08:43 BST

Cold winds from the north look set to bring a band of rain and high winds on Thursday followed immediately by snow across the country.

Forecaster Aisling Creevey, of MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association news agency, said: "Pretty much everywhere is at risk from snow and icy conditions as the temperature drops on Thursday.

"And temperatures could be down to minus 10C in Scotland and to minus 4C and minus 5C across the country overnight on Friday."

David Price, a forecaster for the Met Office, said there would be five to 10cm (two to four inches) of snow over much of the country, with some higher areas of Scotland facing as much as 20cm (eight inches).