BRITAIN could face up to SIX INCHES of snow as a terrifying winter storm barrels towards the UK in just over 10-days-time, after subjecting mainland Europe to terrifying snowfall, freezing temperatures and dangerous conditions.

The terrifying snowstorm ravaging Europe has now claimed the lives of 20 people - but Britain could be next in line to bear the brunt of the frightening winter storm. Heavy snowfall and raging winter conditions have seen people stranded and cut off in countries such as Germany, Czech Republic and Austria. Extreme conditions saw almost 10 feet of snow lay in Alpine regions causing dangerous, life threatening avalanches and the shutting of over 1,000 miles of ski-resort slopes and around 450 lifts due to the dangerous conditions.

A weather map from WXCHARTS shows the majority of the UK – stretching from the highlands in Scotland down to East Anglia, the Midlands and the south east coast – will be blanketed by snow on January 24 and 25.

Parts of the Lakes District could face up to six inches (16cm) of snow, while Yorkshire is forecast to receive around 2.3 inches (6cm).

East Anglia, part of Greater London and Kent are show with 1cm of snow.

Temperatures are already beginning to drop to chilling lows, following a relatively mild start to the New Year.

UK snow warning: Up to six inches of snow are predicted within the next two weeks (Image: WXCHARTS)

And along with the frightening snowstorm from Europe, heavy rainfall and gale force winds are set to ravage the UK to its core, causing potential chaos and misery for thousands.

Chaos to road, air and rail travel is expected as the frightening weather system draws in on British shores.

The freezing weather is said to have been caused by Stratospheric warming, a phenomenon that sees temperatures briefly and suddenly warming up – before plummeting back to freezing figures.

When the phenomenon occurs in the Arctic, it pushes the cold air eastwards, bringing heavy snowfall in its destructive path.

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The blast of heavy snow will be caused by sub-zero temperatures sweeping through the country and the icy air and wintry conditions are likely to remain through to February.

Meteorologists believe the chilling weather system caused the Beast from the East early in 2018.

In February last year, freezing Siberian winds brought icy temperatures and snowfall to the UK.

And meteorologists believe that a repeat of the chilling weather system will be on the cards in under two-weeks-time.

UK snow warning: This winter overview chart shows the UK will be in for a devastatingly cold winter (Image: WXCHARTS)

Met Office forecaster Nicola Maxey said Sudden Stratospheric Warming would see the dreaded Beast From the East return.

Mrs Maxey told the Independent: “It’s mainly this weather we’re seeing at the moment continuing into the middle of the month.

“Then, as we go through towards the end of the month, these conditions become a little bit more changeable with some spells of rain and strong winds, and some of that rain might fall as snow.

Up to 5cm of snow is expected to fall in North Wales and Scotland by next Friday.

UK snow warning: Snow could pile up across the north, east and midlands (Image: WXCHARTS)

Meanwhile parts of East Anglia and the Midlands can expect to receive around 1cm of snow on January 23, according to the weather forecast maps.

The Met office said in its long-range forecast prediction for the period of January 16 to January 25: “Winds will be strong with a risk of gales in the north at times. Thereafter, it looks set to remain mainly cold, unsettled and sometimes windy, with any milder spells tending to be brief and associated with longer spells of rain.

"The rain could turn to snow almost anywhere, but particularly across northern and central areas. especially later in this period. Some drier, brighter, quieter spells are likely, perhaps with snow showers, especially in the east. During such spells, frost could become widespread and severe.

"Temperatures overall will be close to the seasonal average, but from late next week onwards there is a greater chance of cold spells giving more widespread frosts and an enhanced risk of snow, especially in the north and east."

UK snow warning: The UK is set to experience the chaos that has hit central and eastern Europe (Image: GETTY)

And going into February, the Met Office predicted more uncertainty over how long the big freeze descending upon the UK would last.

The statement read: "There is an increased likelihood of cold weather being established across all of the UK. This would bring a greater risk of snow, ice and widespread frost, particularly across northern parts of the country.

"There remains uncertainty over the extent of the cold weather and how long it will last, and it is still possible that some milder and wetter interludes will intersperse this generally cold period, especially in the south."