Snow and ice warning amid plunging temperatures as minus 8C recorded

Temperatures have plunged to a low of minus 8C as snow fell in Scotland, but the Met Office has said it is too early to predict a white Christmas.

Swathes of Scotland has been warned to brace for snow and ice, with weather warnings issued amid plummeting temperatures.

Road users are being warned of icy conditions while people have been asked to take care to avoid suffering slips and fall injuries in one of the first icy periods of the winter.

Police Scotland has issued a warning after a car was stolen in East Dunbartonshire after being left unattended while defrosting. Officers said they found seven vehicles left unattended outside homes.

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Warning issued as car stolen after being left running to defrost windows

The theft in Bearsden on Tuesday comes after temperatures plummeted across Scotland.

There is potential for disruption to road, bus and rail networks – with ice patches forming on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

The snow gates on the A939 at Cock Bridge are closed.

❗️UPDATE📷06:00 SNOW GATES📷#A939 Cock Bridge – Bridge of Leachd Snow gates remains 📷CLOSED📷 Please #TakeCare#DriveToConditions Have a look at our snow gate cameras here📷: https://t.co/VoMcGEOxVA ❄️ pic.twitter.com/fQCv5Nt5pP
— Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) November 30, 2023

A low of minus 8C was reported at Aonach Mor in the Highlands. Other parts of the UK had their coldest November night since 2010.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said it had recorded snow in eastern Scotland with about 2cm of snow in some eastern coast areas.

A pheasant is seen on the A939 between Corgarff and the Lecht.

Scotland is being hit by a blast of cold air from Scandinavia, causing a cold snap for many in the north.

Daytime temperatures are expected to drop to single-digit figures this week and night temperatures are expected to stay below freezing for large parts of Scotland.

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There is a yellow weather warning in force until 11am on Thursday with another active from 5pm until 11am on Friday.

Clear spells for many through Wednesday evening 🌖

Showers continuing in northeast England, Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland, turning to snow over the higher ground 🌨️⚠️

Cold with temperatures falling under the clear skies, with the risk of icy stretches ❄️⚠️ pic.twitter.com/iv9ejVYlux
— Met Office (@metoffice) November 29, 2023

Motoring organisation RAC urged drivers to “ensure they’re winter ready as some get their first real taste of snow and ice”, while the forecaster warned that wintry conditions could lead to icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, possibly leading to some longer journey times.

Ladbrokes’ latest betting odds for snow to fall anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day are 1/2, and it says Edinburgh and Newcastle are the “most likely destinations to see snow”.

But the Met Office urged people to take a prediction this far in advance with a “pinch of salt”.