The UK is set to be hammered by bitterly cold weather in a matter of hours, with temperatures in some parts of the country forecast to plunge below zero. As many as 17 cities are set to see the mercury plummet to freezing levels.

Weather maps from WXCharts have turned icy blue, indicating that a sweeping cold snap is on its way. At 6am on Wednesday (May 5), Scotland is expected to take the worst of the bitter conditions, with Perth and Kinross forecast to experience the lowest temperatures in the country at -3C. Aberdeen will be just a degree warmer and the Scottish Highlands will see the mercury hover between 0C and -2C. Edinburgh and Glasgow will see temperatures plunge to brutally cold lows -1C, the maps show. England will also see glimpses of the brutally cold weather, with Carlisle expected to drop to -1C.

Newcastle upon Tyne and Middlesbrough will see temperature lows hover between 0C and 2C.

Further south in England, temperature lows are forecast to only be slightly warmer, and could struggle to get above freezing.

The maps suggest the mercury will hover between 1C and 6C, meaning millions of Britons could wake up to extgremely cold conditions on Wednesday morning.

The Met Office's weather forecast for Wednesday warns of colder conditions compared to those experienced in recent days.

It states: "Most places dry with patchy cloud and sunny spells. A few showers breaking out across Northern Ireland, Wales and southwest England. Temperatures below average for the time of year."

Inverness

Aberdeen

Dundee

Glasgow

Edinburgh

Carlisle

Newcastle upon Tyne

Sunderland

Middlesborough

Bradford

Leeds

York

Birmingham

Coventry

Wrexham

Bangor

St Asaph