Winter is HERE: First SNOW hits Britain as country prepares for historic whiteout
BRITAIN has been hit with its first dump of snow as Britons brace themselves for weeks of sub-zero blizzards and crippling snowfall which will plunge the country into winter lockdown.
Sheep were covered in snow in Cumbria
Sheets of snow covered Cumbria on Friday as the region attempted to recover from devastating floods over the Christmas and New Year period which put thousands of homes under water.
It comes as forecasters warned a huge Arctic snow bomb is set to smash into the UK.
Swaledale sheep were spotted in snowy Brough, only by their little black faces, as their thick winter wool protected them against the gusts of wind which accompanied the snowfall.
Cumbria Police warned drivers to stay safe in difficult driving conditions as sleet and snow covered roads across the county.
The start of the snow could be the first taste of what could be a historic whiteout as freezing winds drive in from Siberia and the North Pole.
Drivers were warned to be careful on the snow covered roads
Cold arctic winds for the UK in January, says Weather Channel
Further north, flood-ravaged Scotland is bracing itself for up to two feet of snow as the mercury is set to nosedive to -10C.
The Met Office said much of the UK would be hit by showers or longer spells of rain - which could turn into snow and sleet - over the weekend due to low pressure systems running in from the Atlantic.
More snow is forecast next week
Trucks were instantly covered in snow this morning
They warned not to be fooled by a brief mild spell at the beginning of next week as by Wednesday colder conditions from the north will drift to the south, with arctic air being pushed by north or northwesterly airflow.
The Arctic air will bring a mixture of sunshine and showers which increasingly are likely to fall as sleet or now across the north.
Those in the south will not miss out on snow either, with some areas at risk of snow and sleet.
Britons will have to wrap up warm as temperatures across the British Isles from Wednesday onwards will drop to a chilly nought to five degrees centigrade, while nights will fall below freezing.
Snow could be down south by next Wednesday
Sheep huddled together against the snow