A “widespread snow event” is expected cause chaos on the roads and cripple transport networks as early as next week, long-range forecasters said.
They have warned another “Arctic plunge” will trigger a “significant change” to the weather sending the mercury plummeting and bringing heavy snow in parts.
Government weather forecasters said Britain is likely to shiver in below-average temperatures for the next three months.They blame a negative North Atlantic Oscillation which will block mild Atlantic air and allow bitter Arctic gales to rip into the UK.
A statement from the Met Office’s three-month contingency plan states: “Indications are that December will most likely be colder than average.
This wintry blast has all the ingredients to become a potentially widespread snow event
“For December-January-February as a whole uncertainty is quite large but below-average temperatures are more likely than above-average."
It comes amid warnings this winter could be one of the worst in history rivalling shockers of 1947 and 1962 with no let up until spring.
Long-range indications are that high pressure will plunge temperatures into minus figures bringing periods of crippling snowfall.
Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said: “Signs at the moment are that this winter could break records.“Although it is milder at the moment, it will quickly descend into a much colder theme towards the end of December and into next year.
“There is every possibility we could parallel one of the severe historic winters like 1947 or 1962, with a blocking pattern setting in through the whole season.
Devon and North East England were left under 2ft of snow and people were able to walk on the tops of the frozen shrubbery.
Forecasters warn this winter could also be a carbon copy of 1947, the snowiest in history. Showers that March lead to seven-metre high drifts.
James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said: “A significant change to much colder conditions is likely to develop across many parts of the country as we progress throughout next week.
“This wintry blast has all the ingredients to become a potentially widespread snow event.
“This will herald an appropriate feel to the start of the meteorological winter, in what is set to be a long hard winter with abundant snow amounts.
“In particular, in January, which could replicate December 2010 and see temperatures hovering at several degrees below the seasonal average for a prolonged period of time.”
The warning comes as brutal gales gear up to lash parts of the country today (Friday) sparking warnings of travel mayhem.
The Met Office last night issued a weather warning for winds in northern Scotland which could hit severe gale force.
A spokesman said: “Northwesterly gales will reach severe gale force at times during Friday across parts of northeast Scotland and the Northern Isles.
“Gusts of 60 to 65 mph are expected with isolated gusts of 70 mph possible over more exposed headlands, especially across Orkney.
“The public should be aware of the possibility of disruption to travel.”
Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel, said Britain is braced for another “Arctic plunge” next week.
He said: “From the end of next week and across the weekend there is a hint of a colder Arctic plunge again.
“Certainly the northern half of the UK will become a lot colder for a time with the risk of snow showers, even at lower levels.
“There are some extreme model forecasts for the end of next week with temperatures struggling to lift much above zero by day and snow showers over northern Scotland and along eastern and western coasts.”
The dire warning comes just days after official figures revealed there were 31,100 excess deaths last winter.
Most of these were among elderly and vulnerable people triggered by cold and icy conditions.
Campaigners warn the death toll - about 260 a day during the winter months, mainly among the over-75s - could rocket amid soaring energy bills.
Professor Mike Morgan, NHS national clinical director for respiratory health, said: “If you know someone who is frail or elderly, or has an existing health problem and they are feeling unwell, encourage them to seek early advice, go to their local pharmacy or GP before one problem leads to another and they end up in hospital.”
Malcolm Booth, of the National Federation of Occupational Pensioners, said: “The predictions are that this winter is going to be as bad if not worse than last year.
“So there is a distinct risk that these numbers could increase as many elderly people won’t be able to cope with soaring fuel prices.
“The numbers themselves are shocking and it raises a concern as to what this will mean for 2013/14 if people are too scared to put up their heating and protect themselves.
“A similar number would be an appalling reflection on where we are as a country.”