Britain's sudden slide into frost and chilly fog will accelerate further this week, with snow and wintry showers forecast for much of the country on Thursday and Friday.

"A blast of winds emanating directly from the Arctic" will send temperatures down to 3C or 4C nationwide, according to John Hammond, a meteorologist at the Met Office, and dump snow in Scotland, the North East and higher ground in Wales.

"We are looking at maximum temperatures of 3C and 4C and a windchill that will bring temperatures down to between minus 5C and minus 10C. That's pretty impressive windchill for November," said Mr Hammond.

The wintry showers are forecast to begin during Thursday, bringing snow, sleet and hail to Scotland, northern England and the east coast. Bitter winds will blow across the entire country, continuing into Friday and abating gradually over the weekend.

As much as 20cm (7.9in) of snow could fall on higher ground in Scotland and exposed patches of the North York Moors. The last time Britain was hit by a substantial November snowfall was in 1993.

The Met Office has predicted a colder and drier than average winter this year, with more winds than usual striking Britain from the Arctic and Scandinavia. Mr Hammond says the cold snap will feel bitter after such a warm autumn but that the conditions were not unusual for this time of year.

"It comes on the back of what so far has been a very mild autumn," he said. "Within a week, we've had a taste of autumn and now we will have the first taste of winter. In a sense we are getting back on track now."

The Highways Agency warned drivers to take extra precautions this week as the weather deteriorates. Cold nights in the first half of the week are expected to leave widespread fog hanging over slippery roads before snow and sleet make conditions even worse.

The onset of a cold winter has also led campaigners for the elderly to warn of the risks posed to those on low incomes and in poor housing conditions.

"Last winter, deaths amongst older people as a result of cold-related illnesses increased by 35 per cent in just one year, the highest for five years. This is a shocking increase and, unless urgent action is taken by the Government, the scandal will persist and this winter could see another unacceptable death toll," said Steve Jones, a spokesman for the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership today.

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