A SSW was the same weather phenomenon that led to the brutal ‘Beast from the East’ in 2018, which transported cold air from Siberia to Europe and heavy snowfall to Great Britain and Ireland. Temperatures plummeted across the country with lows of -14.7C recorded in Faversham, Kent, and Storm Emma brought 50 cm of snow in some elevated areas.

Parts of the UK may be drenched by more than half a month’s rainfall in a single day this week, the Met Office has warned. Yellow weather warnings will be in place for the next four days, with heavy rain and fierce winds forecast to lash the nation. The miserable weather could lead to travel chaos, power outages and flooding.

The Met Office has issued amber and yellow weather warnings, highlighting the potential for travel disruption and extremely difficult conditions.

WXCHARTS' weather maps have turned a frosty purple and white, signalling that snow is on the horizon in parts of the UK - and it could arrive within days

Weather maps show a barrage of rain and wind is set to sweep across the UK in the coming days, which could result in flooding, especially across the Southwest of England

While it is not yet known whether the country will experience a white Christmas this year, temperatures are expected to plummet in the run-up to the big day. According to forecaster WXCharts, temperatures as low as -3C will affect some parts of the country, with the mercury slightly higher at -2C in other areas on December 23.

The Met Office defines an official White Christmas as occurring when at least one snowflake falls somewhere in the UK during the 24-hour period of December 25. By this definition, 2023 qualified as the UK's most recent White Christmas, with 11 per cent of weather stations recording snowfall.