Big chill could lead to a White Christmas

Another arctic blast will bring more snow and a White Christmas to the West Midlands, forecasters are predicting.

The icy weather, which is due to start this Thursday and could last into the New Year, will bring an end to a brief respite from the cold snap.

Temperatures are expected to plunge to -10C (14F) by the end of the week and forecasters say it could be a "sensational cold spell". The Met Office is forecasting that temperatures will tumble to -2C (28F) tonight.

Tomorrow and Wednesday are expected to be cooler with bitter winds making their return, bringing sleet, snow and a possible risk of ice on Thursday.

Forecaster Brian Gaze, of The Weather Outlook, said: "The cold eased in recent days but will return with a vengeance, starting with possible sleet or snow in the south east on Monday and Tuesday.

"It will turn much colder from Wednesday, with a northerly airstream bringing bitterly-cold Arctic air.

"Snowfalls are very likely, with accumulations of 8in a distinct possibility in the north, while winds are likely to lead to snowdrifts.

"The cold is expected to cover the whole country by Friday.

"If the Met Office outlook is correct, with the cold going into January, this really will be a sensational cold spell."

The cold end to the month could mean that this December could be one of the chilliest on record. Records show that the first week of the month was the second coldest since 1772.

The last official white Christmas was in 2009, when snow was widespread across Northern Ireland, Scotland, parts of Wales, the Midlands, north-east and far south-west England.

The definition of an official white Christmas used most widely is for a single snow flake to be observed falling in the 24 hours of December 25.