Arctic snow and ice to return by end of week

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A freezing blast of bitter weather straight from the North Pole is set to hit the UK by the end of the week beginning Wednesday, with rain and sleet rapidly turning to heavy snowfalls and more sub-zero temperatures.

The early part of the week will see frantic efforts by Royal Mail and other delivery companies, almost out of action for the past several weeks, to deliver backlogs of letters, cards and Christmas presents ordered online. Internet retailers have had their best pre-Christmas rush ever as housebound customers log on, but there is no guarantee goods will arrive in time for the festivities.

Postmen are struggling to catch up by delivering on Sundays, with a spokesman promising ‘best efforts’ will be made to clear the huge backlog piled up after roads became impassable. Many online retailers now have posts on their website giving notice that normal delivery services are now suspended.

According to Met Office forecaster Tim Thorne this morning, apart from slight showers of snow in East Anglia and on the southeast coast and countrywide overnight frosts, the weekend respite will continue till the middle of the week. At that point, says Mr Thorne, an area of low pressure moving south from Iceland will bring bitter cold air sweeping in from the North Pole.

Around eight inches of snow is expected, with the worst of the weather concentrating in the western regions of the UK, and the freeze will continue until at least next weekend. Arctic blizzards combined with a freezing northwesterly wind are expected to give perceived temperatures of around -10˚C.