Scotland issued double snow warning as Met Office urges to prepare for 'wintry hazards'

Forecasters are warning of 'wintry hazards' this weekend as two yellow weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued in Scotland over a three-day period.

The alerts have been put in place from Sunday (November 17) until Tuesday (November 19) as Arctic air is set to hit the country. They warn that as much as 20cm of snow (7.8 inches) is to fall on higher ground, while lower areas can expect 10cm (four inches).

The Met Office has predicted that the early winter cold spell could bring 'potentially disruptive' conditions to the whole of the UK with warning that the weather will take a 'major change' after weeks of unusually mild temperatures.

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While today Friday (November 15) and tomorrow (November 16) is forecasted to be cold with the possibility of some hill snow, things are set to really take a turn on Sunday (November 17) when low pressure moves in and the temperatures plummet.

The first yellow warning for snow and ice has been put in place from Sunday (November 17) at 4pm until Monday (November 18) at 11am. While little snow is likely set to settle at low levels by day, through the evening it's possible that up to 5-10cm may fall on high ground above 300m by Monday morning.

The conditions are likely to lead to slippery conditions and are expected to impact travel with the warning affecting Aberdeenshire, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar and the Highlands as well as the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

The second yellow snow and ice warning has been issued from Monday (November 18) at 10am until Tuesday (November 19) at 10am, with the possibility of a "chance of disruption" such as power cuts, untreated pavements, travel delays and rural communities being unreachable".

The Met Office states: "Spells of rain, sleet and snow are likely during Monday and overnight into Tuesday morning. The most likely scenario is for most of the snow to fall on high ground, with 5 to 10 cm possible above 300 metres and perhaps as much as 15 to 20 cm above 400 metres.

"There is a small chance of snow settling at lower levels, where 5 to 10 cm would prove much more disruptive, but this is very uncertain."

It comes after the national forecaster recently warned of a weather shift thanks to a bout of Arctic air set to breeze through the country.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Rebekah Hicks said: "A notable early winter cold spell will arrive across the north from Sunday and will likely reach all parts of the UK by midweek.

"Temperatures will drop as a northerly airflow develops, bringing in colder Arctic air. This introduces the possibility of snow, initially over high ground in the north from Sunday, with gusty winds also a potential hazard."

WX Charts state that temperatures will hit lows of -5C in Scotland on Sunday (November 17) with up to 15cm of snow depth expected in the Highlands before the freezing conditions will plunge even further to -12C on Tuesday (November 19).

Scotland's snow warning - Sunday and Monday

Regions and local authorities affected:

Central, Tayside & Fife

• Clackmannanshire

• Falkirk

• Fife

• Stirling

SW Scotland, Lothian Borders

• Dumfries and Galloway

• East Lothian

• Edinburgh

• Midlothian council

• Scottish borders

• West Lothian

Strathclyde

• Argyll and Bute

• Glasgow

• Renfrewshire

• East Ayrshire

• Inverclyde

• South Ayrshire

• East Dunbartonshire

• North Ayrshire

• South Lanarkshire

• East Renfrewshire

• North Lanarkshire

• West Dunbartonshire

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The Met Office has highlighted that there is still a lot of uncertainty about what conditions next week will bring as forecasting 'impactful snow' can be very tricky in the UK and it's too early to forecast which areas will see significant snowfall.

Computer models are said to be showing a number of different weather scenarios with Rebekah explaining: "There is a lot of uncertainty in what might happen after Sunday, but there are a number of scenarios which could bring some more widespread rain, along with some hill snow and stronger winds.

"It is possible that there may be some more widespread snowfall across lower ground, but the chance of this for any given region is low at this stage. What we do know is that the whole of the UK is likely to experience a spell of several days of cold, potentially disruptive weather next week."

"Warnings for wintry hazards, including snow and ice, are possible, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest forecast."

The Met Office has urged people to prepare for the colder conditions in advance by reading more about how to keep your home warm and the ways in which cold weather can impact your health as part of their WeatherReady campaign.

Age Scotland's Chief Executive Katherine Crawford has asked everyone to ensure they are checking in on their elder family, friends and neighbours during this period who may be struggling to leave the house for essential shopping or medical appointments.

She said: "A friendly phone call or an offer to help with shopping, collecting prescriptions or de-icing paths could be a lifeline for someone who feels isolated at home during this cold spell.

"Older people, their carers and families in Scotland looking for help or advice can call Age Scotland’s free helpline on 0800 12 44 222."

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