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Scotland has been hit by an Arctic blast overnight as cold weather has arrived in the country earlier than predicted. Scots suffered a bone-chilling -7C plunge during the small hours, with the Met Office changing its forecast to confirm that snow is on its way across some of the Central Belt.
And weather maps show that the cold snap will bring snowfall across most of Scotland - and it will arrive sooner than predicted. WXCharts have now updated its forecast and have estimated that the white stuff will actually fall on Wednesday November 19 and not the 21st.
On Saturday night, the country recorded its coldest night since March - which is a sign of a cold winter ahead. Temperatures dropped to minus 7C in Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands, the lowest the mercury has dropped since March 20, according to the Met Office.
Lows of -1C were recorded in Glasgow, with a high of 8C, and in the likes of Edinburgh and Dundee it could drop to as low as -4C by Friday. Snow and ice are possible after what has been a spell of above-average temperatures, with Storm Claudia bring high pressure and an Arctic blast.
READ MORE: Snow falls near Glasgow as weather maps show nowhere to be spared as temperatures plummet to minus 10
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: "As Storm Claudia retreats to the south, high pressure to the north-west will drive a cold northerly flow from the Arctic across the UK. This will bring much colder conditions than of late and, whilst generally drier than recent days, there will also be a risk of wintry hazards, such as snow and ice. This will be a notable change in our weather after a prolonged spell of above-average temperatures."
Parts of Scotland will wake up to fresh snow, according to WXCharts, with a weather system moving in from the east on Tuesday and leading to freezing rain. It will spark snow between Dundee to the Northern Highlands, with the land blanketed in two to four inches of the white stuff.
The Central Belt, i.e Glasgow, Edinburgh and Lanarkshire, is so far predicted to miss out on major snow with freezing temperatures being recorded. The Scottish Borders will also see a light dusting of snow on Wednesday.
Throughout the day scattered snowfall will move from the northwest Highlands and drift towards southeast Scotland. Some light snow will remain on the ground but frequent rainfall mixed with scattered flurries will wash it away by November 24.
The sub-zero plunge will reach its lowest point on Thursday where Scots will be braving a bone-chilling -5C. The Met Office's long-range forecast from Friday November 21st onwards said: "A widespread and in places sharp frost to begin Friday. Then a transition during the day to less cold and more generally unsettled conditions as Atlantic weather fronts make inroads into the UK.
"These will bring spells of rain potentially quite widely, though the wettest conditions through the latter part of November may occur across more southern areas. There is also the potential for some windy weather to develop at times, again this perhaps more likely further to the south.
"Compared to the preceding few days, a reduced likelihood of snowfall, though some upland snow remains possible in the north. Temperatures probably returning closer to average, generally speaking, for late November, and perhaps becoming mild at times in the south."
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