Britain faces more snow and sub-zero temperatures in the coming week with gritters on standby for major disruption across the country.
The current cold spell will continue into next week, with torrential downpours, sleet and snow, according to forecasters.
The Met Office say we may be heading into a cold snap which could drag on for weeks.
In Darley Dale, Derbyshire, a Mini fell victim to the poor weather conditions on Saturday and was left abandoned next to a gate covered in snow.
Forecasters have warned there could be travel disruption with heavy rain, sleet and snow predicted for the coming the week
Snow covers the pathway in Macclesfield, Cheshire, snow has already hit many parts of the country as a cold snap set in this week
This Mini was abandoned after it was crashed near Darley Dale in Derbyshire amid the first heavy snows of the year on Saturday
Temperatures dropped overnight leading to hazardous driving conditions such as here in Darley Dale, Derbyshire on Saturday
The Met Office’s long range forecasters believe freezing temperatures could hit most areas towards the end of the month, bringing with it rain, snow and ice.
Already, areas in Scotland and higher ground in the north of England have seen snow.
One car spun out of control and landed in a ditch near Darley Dale in Derbyshire.
Over the next seven days, temperatures are expected to drop further, with widespread frost, ice and snow possible in many areas of the country.
Cars drive through deep puddles of water on the side of the road as Brighton and Hove is hit with rain and cold weather on Saturday
This pair of stags looked out over a frozen Beeley Moor in Derbyshire as temperatures in parts of the country plummeted
The outlook for the next few days: there is a chance a prolonged cold snap could last for several weeks, but weather models are currently unable to make confident predictions
The Met Office’s chief meteorologist Andy Page said: ‘On Monday and early Tuesday, a band of heavier rain, hill snow and strong winds will move quickly south across the UK, followed by wintry showers for the middle of the week.
‘Some of the showers will be heavy bringing a mixture of rain, hail, sleet and snow, most frequently across parts of the north and west.
‘There are then strong signals for a change to northeasterly winds towards the end of next week. As we go through the rest of the month and into February the longer-range outlook indicates it will remain cold and possibly very cold for a time.’
Mr Page said the extended cold spell increases the risk of snow at lower levels.
Snow covers the ground outside the Peak View tea rooms near Macclesfield, Cheshire, the current cold spell could be here to stay for the next few weeks according to the latest forecasts
Police warned of dangerous driving conditions in parts of the country as snow settled in areas such as Derbyshire
Sheep graze on snow covered fields along the A628 towards Barnsley, South Yorkshire, as the cold weather sets in across the UK
The frigid weather comes from a sudden stratospheric warming event at the end of December, causing temperatures to rapidly rise in the atmosphere, leaving open the possibility of an extended cold period.
Temperatures sunk as low as -9C (16F) in parts of northern Scotland as the weekend began, while in the South conditions hovered a few degrees above freezing.
A cold front sweeping in from the North West on Sunday morning will bring fresh dustings of hill snow for the Highlands and Grampians in Scotland, and then the Pennines in northern England and Snowdonia in Wales as it sinks south, he added.
Mr McGivern said: ‘The cold weather is here to stay for now, and there could be more significant cold and disruptive snow at times through next week.
‘Still a lot of uncertainty, so we’re keeping a keen eye on that here at the Met Office.’
Public Health England suggested that during the cold snap, people should look in on elderly neighbours and relatives.
Dr Emer O’Connell of PHE said: ‘Experience shows us that every winter thousands of people are seriously affected and even die from illnesses linked to the cold. Protecting yourself from the cold may seem like common sense but many people do not manage to keep themselves warm
‘If you know someone at risk, someone over 65, anyone with dementia or a heart and lung condition, or a young child, check up on them and see if there’s anything you can do to help. All of us should be heating our homes to at least 18C, keeping up to date with weather forecasts and planning our days around them – simple steps can really help protect against the cold.’
On Monday and Tuesday, there will be hill snow in north-western areas and wintry showers for many western parts.