A bitterly cold Arctic blast is to hit the UK in a matter of hours with ‘maximum temperatures’ to only reach a bitter -3C.

Brutal cold WXCHARTS weather maps show Britain’s latest big freeze is coming in a matter of hours.

Weather maps have turned a variety of colours from purple to blue indicating that harsh weather conditions are on their way.

Scotland looks likely to see the worst of the weather with maximum temperatures plunging to as low as -3C on Tuesday, December 3 at 9am.

Edinburgh will see ever so slightly warmer temperatures of a still freezing -1C.

Large parts of the country will be covered in a blanket of snow with as much as 5cm-10cm of the white stuff predicted.

On Wednesday, December 4 at midnight, Scotland is forecast to once again be covered in snow, key cities including Inverness and Glasgow look likely to receive a hammering of snow. However, Edinburgh could just miss out on catching a glimpse of the white stuff.

England won’t miss out on seeing snow with Cumbria, Northumberland and Durham in the north of England all forecast to receive a winter blast. And the snow could also reach as far south as Birmingham.

Elsewhere on Tuesday the North West and North East of England will feel the chill with temperatures to reach a disappointing 0C this will include Manchester and Newcastle.

London, the South East and large parts of Wales will see the mercury hovering around a freezing 1C-2C while some areas of the South West could experience temperatures of 3C.

Weather maps suggest West Wales and East Anglia will see the highest temperatures of 4C-5C.

In the Met Office's outlook for Sunday December 1 to Thursday December 5 the forecaster is warning that the weather is "turning colder from the north as rain arrives".

Tuesday morning is forecast to be "Cold and crisp" with "cloud and rain spreading eastwards through the afternoon".

As we go into Wednesday contitions will become "drier and more settled for many", but turning "wet and windy on Thursday".