Respite from the chill is on the way - after temperatures plummeted to lower than some parts of the Arctic Circle last night, next week they are likely to be rather warmer.
Forecasters predict London could enjoy a relatively balmy 13C (55.4F) on Wednesday, around 6C higher than the average for this time of year.
Yet last night the thermometer hovered around minus 6.6C (20.1F) at Eskdale Muir in Dumfries in Galloway, Scotland, where around 4in (10cm) of snow has covered the Highlands over the last 36 hours.
Story continues after slideshow...
Winter Weather
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(01 of15)
Open Image ModalTara the Miniature Shetland Pony near the Spittal of Glenshee in Scotland as bad weather continues to hit the UK. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(02 of15)
Open Image ModalSteven Rea pushes his moped through a snow covered field in the Belfast hills. (credit:Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(03 of15)
Open Image ModalDarryle McClurkin on a quad bike in a snow covered field in the Belfast hills. (credit:Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(04 of15)
Open Image ModalA snow warning near the Spittal of Glenshee in Scotland as bad weather continues to hit the UK. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(05 of15)
Open Image ModalLiam Fordyce plays in the snow near the Spittal of Glenshee in Scotland as bad weather continues to hit the UK. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(06 of15)
Open Image ModalSheep on a farm near the Bridge of Cally in Scotland as bad weather continues to hit the UK. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(07 of15)
Open Image ModalSheep on a farm near the Bridge of Cally in Scotland as bad weather continues to hit the UK. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(08 of15)
Open Image ModalTara the Miniature Shetland Pony near the Spittal of Glenshee in Scotland as bad weather continues to hit the UK. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(09 of15)
Open Image ModalJan Lidbetter feeds Tara the Miniature Shetland Pony near the Spittal of Glenshee in Scotland as bad weather continues to hit the UK. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(10 of15)
Open Image ModalA gritter lorry is restocked near the Spittal of Glenshee in Scotland as bad weather continues to hit parts of the UK. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(11 of15)
Open Image ModalSnow covered rooftops of Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales after overnight snow. (credit:John Giles/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(12 of15)
Open Image ModalA car in snowy conditions at tan Hill in the Pennines after overnight snow. (credit:John Giles/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(13 of15)
Open Image ModalSnowy conditions at tan Hill in the Pennines after overnight snow. (credit:John Giles/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(14 of15)
Open Image ModalWorkers from Network Rail work on the sea wall in Dawlish, Devon as most parts of the UK will experience some respite following the stormy weather of recent days, the Met Office said. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
Winter weather Dec 12th 2014(15 of15)
Open Image ModalA dogwalker on the beach in Dawlish, Devon as most parts of the UK will experience some respite following the stormy weather of recent days, the Met Office said. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
The icy conditions landed a dog in cold water after it chased a duck across thin ice.
Firefighters waded into Keptie Pond in Arbroath and broke the ice with axes after the owner informed them the pet had become trapped.
But the chill is lingering at least for tonight.
Temperatures are expected to drop to around minus 5C (41F) in rural parts of south-east England, but further north and west will be warmer with outbreaks of rain.
Paul Mott, from weather forecaster MeteoGroup, said the snow in Scotland would melt tonight before rain spreads across parts of the UK tomorrow, with snowy showers over the hills of Scotland overnight into Monday.
Temperatures at the start and end of next week will be around the seasonal average of 4C (39.2F) to 7C (44.6F) in central and southern areas, but the middle of the week will see a short-lived spike.
Mott said: "On Wednesday temperatures will be up to 13C (55.4F) in the London area, and it will be mild in the South from the middle of the week. Around 7C (44.6F) is the average at this time of year in the London area. 13C (55.4F) is above average but not unusual for this time of year, but it will be a lot milder than we have seen recently."
Despite the blip, early forecasts for next weekend and going into Christmas week suggest a rather unsettled picture, with wind and rain.
The coldest day of the winter so far was on December 5, when it reached minus 6.8C (19.8) in Benson in Oxfordshire.