Weather in Scotland will take a frosty turn this week in an Arctic plunge.
Today Scots are enjoying bright but chilly weather in a welcome dose of sunshine, but sub-zero temperatures and snow up to five centimetres are in store for parts of the country on Thursday.
The Met Office said the frosty weather will turn into a deep-freeze as snow could fall on hills in Scotland today, The Mirror reported.
Temperatures will plunge to -2C in Edinburgh and Glasgow overnight heading into Thursday - low enough for a risk of ice, according to BBC Weather Scotland.
On Thursday, maps from WX Charts show a carpet of snow for parts of eastern England and Scotland where up to five centimetres - or two inches - could fall.
Wednesday is expected to bring brighter skies and some snow as the mercury falls.
Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: "Some showers will continue into northern Scotland, snow on the hills, by the end of the day some snow even to low levels across the northern isles.
"But for most parts it is a brightening up kind of day as it starts gloomy but by the end of the day it is largely fine but it will be feeling colder.
"The colder air arriving and when you add that wind on it really will feel pretty bitter across the North East, some very strong winds across that north eastern corner in particular making it feel sub-zero.
"Those strong winds will blow more wintry showers across the North East. Even across the mainland of Scotland some snow is possible and it could turn icy.
"And ice is a potential risk as some showers drift down the eastern side of England into Thursday morning, bit of sleet and snow is possible but mostly rain but it could be icy and for many it will start with a frost on Thursday morning."
He said Thursday would be a cold day but with sunshine for many as the chill begins to ease as temperatures reach highs of about 4C or 5C.
Going into the weekend it is expected to stay cold with frost and with fog likely to descend, but less rain heading into next week.
UK forecast for the next five days
Patchy rain moving south. Sunshine and wintry showers in north.
Today:
Mist and fog patches in the south clearing, then a good deal of cloud with some rain moving south. This followed by colder and breezy conditions with sunny spells, but also scattered showers in north, these wintry in places.
Tonight:
Clear spells with a frost inland. A few showers near western coasts, but most showers in the north and then along North Sea coasts, where wintry at times.
Thursday:
Dry with sunny spells, although further showers in the north and extreme east, wintry in places at first. Windy near North Sea coasts in the morning.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
After a frosty start Friday will be dry and bright for many. A cloudy, dry weekend for most with patchy overnight fog and frost. Milder and windier across the north.
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