Freezing temperatures gripping the UK could last until the end of April, forecasters have predicted.
Things are unlikely to return to normal for this time of year until the latter part of next month, the Met Office revealed in 30-day forecast.
Cold weather has already brought misery upon thousands of homes with widespread power cuts and transport routes remaining impassable because of snow drifts.
The biting wind and dangerous wintry weather looks set to disrupt Easter weekend plans across the country.
More than 3,000 people in Argyll in Scotland and the Isle of Arran were without power after ice and snow damaged pylons, damaging the electricity network.
Farmers have been left counting the cost of the blizzard conditions, with many having to rescue stranded livestock at the height of the lambing season.
An RAF Chinook helicopter was called in yesterday to help as part of an emergency operation in Northern Ireland as farms and families were cut off by huge snow drifts.
The severe weather has also been blamed for the deaths of a number of birds, including puffins, razorbills and guillemots, which have washed up on Britain's beaches.
The RSPB Scotland said it had received reports in Aberdeenshire, Angus and Northumberland.
The Met Office has issued a cold weather alert for much of England, with a 100 per cent probability of severe cold weather and icy conditions until Friday.
Its outlook for Sunday to April 9 predicts cold, dry weather, with a few light snow flurries and widespread frost and icy patches overnight.
And the Met Office predicts temperatures are unlikely to recover to nearer normal values until the latter part of April.
Gemma Plumb, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said that while there was no forecast for more big snow falls, it would remain very cold for the rest of the week, with temperatures as low as minus 6C overnight and ranging from 4C to 8C in the day time.
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"By the time we get to April some places could be 4C or 5C below the average for the month. The South East is likely to see temperatures of 6C to 8C, but the average for April is 12C or 13C," she said.
"There will be some sunny spells around at times, and a few light snow flurries around at times, especially in the east.
"High pressure will start to build across the UK, so there will be fewer snow flurries and more in the way of dry weather over Easter weekend, but it will remain very cold.
"Sunny spells might begin to thaw the snow, but winds from the East could cause more drifts. There are no real signs of warmer weather moving in at this time."
