Colder than Greenland as Arctic blast hits Scotland

Oi, you got any spare anti-freeze in there?

SCOTLAND will be colder than Greenland as an Arctic freeze takes hold, with temperatures plunging to -7C overnight.

The country will wake today to strong to gale force winds and temperatures hovering around freezing as snow falls on higher ground, with rain elsewhere and widespread frost.

As bookmaker Coral slashed the odds on a White Christmas to 4/6, the Met Office yesterday warned of more snow by Wednesday, with Scotland’s East and North coastal areas due lowlevel falls.

Daytime highs of 3-5C for most of Scotland will feel below freezing in the polar windchill.

The Met Office said Scotland’s -7C coldest nights of winter so far are possible on Wednesday and Thursday, beating the -6C on November 6 at Braemar, Aberdeenshire.

This will make Scotland colder than Greenland as Tasiilaq, almost exactly on the Arctic Circle, is due -3C midweek lows.

Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said: ‘It turns cold again from Monday afternoon and stays colder than average through the week and for up to ten days, with winds from the Arctic.

‘A potentially unsettled spell follows as temperatures recover closer to average, then it is likely to turn colder again from December 9 towards Christmas, when showers will turn increasingly wintry, not exclusively over hills.

‘There is a chance of wetter and windier weather in mid-month, especially in the West, which could see temperatures closer to average.

‘People need to be prepared for winter conditions and take heed of severe weather warnings, with ice warnings expected at short notice. Areas most at risk of snow in the week ahead are coastal areas in the East and North, with Wednesday seeing low-level snow possible, mixed in with sleet, hail and rain.

‘The -6.3C coldest temperature of the season could be beaten on Wednesday and Thursday night, with the lowest temperatures well inland.’

John Hammond of weathertrending said: ‘Significant snowfall is certainly expected across the hills of Northern Britain in the next week.’

Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: ‘All regions are at risk of rain, sleet and snow later in the week.’

STV weather presenter Sean Batty said: ‘Details are firming up of a fairly lengthy spell of cold weather.’

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