Arctic conditions plunging temperatures into minus double figures threaten a week of potentially deadly cold.
Freezing winds from the north will bring snow to parts of the country as the mercury nosedives to minus 10C.
Government health authorities have raised the alarm for “significant impacts” and “a rise in deaths”.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has a yellow alert in force through the week across much of England and Wales.
A spokesman said: “Significant impacts are possible across health and social care services, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.
“We may also see impacts on younger age groups, increased demand for remote healthcare services, and impacts on the workforce affecting delivery of services.”
As parts of Wales reel from flooding dumped by Storm Claudia’s deluge, Britain is wrapping up for the next hammering.
Temperatures in Scotland and northern England will plunge through the start of the week, with the rest of England later braced for shivering frosts.
The Highlands and Glens could see lows of minus 10C, while temperatures more widely will sink to freezing or just below.
Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said: “We are expecting our first taste of winter as our wind direction switches from a mild south-westerly to a northerly.
“Cold air is going to become far more widespread, and Monday into Tuesday is when we are really going to see that cold wind bringing some very cold air, but there will be some crisp, bright weather.
“We are going to see an increase in frost and ice, and for some of us, some snow, but it is not expected to be widespread.”
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Daytime temperatures this week will be below the overnight lows of the past few days, she said.
While parts of the country will see snow, warm sea and ground temperatures will stifle any risk of a whiteout, she added.
She said: “As the week goes on, temperatures start to drop, and daytime maximum temperatures will be lower than the minimum temperatures that we have had.
“There is a chance of seeing temperatures below zero across the UK, and still by next weekend, there is a chance that it could be very cold overnight and by day.
“There is a slim chance of snow across southern regions, and there will be a risk of ice, too.”
Britons should brace for the first severe, widespread cold snap of the season, which in parts of the country may be stubborn to shift.
Extreme cold on top of heavy rain and floods in the wake of Storm Claudia carries the added threat of travel hazards.
Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of ‘Surviving Extreme Weather’, said: “In Scotland, there is a risk of heavier snow this week, and this cold weather could hold on into the weekend and the start of next week.
“Where the ground is wet, the dramatic fall in temperatures will bring the risk of ice, and this will be a hazard on the roads and pavements.
“This is the first significant cold snap of the season, and coming after the recent very mild weather, will come as a shock to the system as people may not be prepared.”
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