Time to wrap up

Ice weather for ducks! Britain shivers as temperatures plunge... and first snow of the year is on the way this week

• 'A few centimetres' of snow could fall in some areas by the end of the week
• Three-day cold snap to hit from Thursday before temperatures rise

By Wil Longbottom and Andrew Levy

Last updated at 2:52 PM on 16th January 2012
It's nice weather for ducks, or so the saying goes.
But from the looks of these feathered creatures, they would rather be tucked up in the warm that enduring the elements.
These amusing images show ducks struggling to stay on their (webbed) feet on a frozen lake at Marden Quarry Nature Reserve in North Tyneside yesterday afternoon.

Something to quack about: A female duck falls over on a frozen lake at Marden Quarry Nature reserve, North Tyneside, yesterday afternoon

Winging it: A male duck tries to steady himself on the slippy surface as temperatures across the UK plummeted this weekend

After one of the mildest winters on record, parts of the country will see their first proper snow fall by the end of the week, say forecasters.

The topsy-turvy conditions that have prevailed since November – ranging from warm and sunny to gales – are due to usher in a three-day cold snap from Thursday night.

Over the weekend, temperatures will edge towards freezing and there will also be snow or rain showers.

On the rocks: This female loses her footing as forecasters predicted the first snowfall on 2012 later this week

Slippery customer: These two ducks struggle to find food on the frozen lake

Northern and western parts will be hit hardest before things settle towards the beginning of next week, according to the Met Office.

Forecaster Byron Chalcraft said dry but cool conditions in some areas from today would mean temperatures of up to 11c (52f) on Wednesday – a few degrees above average for this time of year – and it would feel ‘quite mild’.

But he added: ‘By Thursday it will turn colder again. Temperatures will dip to freezing, maybe a couple of degrees under, and we’ll see rain and snow showers around due to cold north-west winds.

Good thing we're wearing coats: Sheep graze in a frozen field near East Witton, in the Yokshire Dales

‘This will mainly affect northern and western parts of the country, Manchester in particular.

‘It could be enough for snow to settle in some parts, maybe a few centimetres, which would be the first snow of the year.’

Temperatures are then likely to rise to 8c (46f) by the beginning of next week.

And while it remains ‘unlikely’ that the country will be blanketed by the kind of heavy snow seen last year, Mr Chalcraft warned that this weekend’s winds could reach up to 40mph, making it seem even chillier.

Northern grit: A longboard surfer enjoys the waves at Longsands, Tynemouth, despite the freezing temperatures

He added: ‘It will be nothing like the gales we’ve seen.

‘The weather is very changeable at the moment but as we go into the beginning of next week it will warm up again with temperatures of around 8c or 9c. That’s still chilly but mild for this time of year.’

Last month, buildings were battered, and roads and railways closed when winds reached more than 100mph.

And last winter was the coldest for 31 years in the UK, with an average December to February temperature of 1.5c (35f).

Jack frost: The clear skies on a beautiful morning in Gunthorpe yesterday, but temperatures will hit freezing again later this week