A WHITE Christmas is virtually guaranteed as the Arctic weather ensures snow and ice will still blanket Cumbria’s iconic fells and much of the lower land on the big day.

It has been so cold that icebergs have even formed in the sea at Arnside and Silverdale and the River Kent froze over for the first time for around 30 years.

It was -12OC in Shap and around -8OC in Kendal during the early hours of yesterday, and the Met Office says that the snow and ice will ‘take some shifting’.

Alan Goodman, Met Office advisor for North West England, said overnight lows of -10OC to -15OC were expected on Christmas Eve night and Christmas Day night.

Daytime temperatures will struggle to get above freezing and away from any fog, which acts to arrest the fall of temperature, the area is likely to see a return of the very severe frosts.

And with the Met Office predicting this will be the coldest December since records began in 1910, there is a chance of more snow on its way before the New Year.

“The key message for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is dry but very cold with the risk of freezing fog patches,” said Mr Goodman.

“White on the ground but nothing falling from the sky unless you happen to have your own snow-making machine tucked away in the garage.

“As for Boxing Day it should start dry and bitterly cold with another severe frost.

"The daytime should stay dry but cloudier skies may edge in from the west with time.”

The harsh conditions are unlikely to let up for at least another week, according to Mr Goodman.

“Later on Sunday and through Monday an Atlantic weather front with milder air behind it will attempt to displace the very cold air lying over the UK,” he said.

“Various scenarios are possible.

“At this point in time my advice would be just for people to keep in the back of their mind the potential risk of more snow for the early part of next week.”

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