This week has seen Scotland being hit with snow and ice, particularly in the north and it seems like this pattern is set to continue.
The Met Office has a new snow and ice warning in place that is to begin from midday on Thursday, November 21 until Friday, November 23 at noon. It comes after a slew of weather warnings were issued for Scotland and the wider UK, with the weekend bracing for “danger to life” rain and snow.
The latest alert is currently in place across Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Orkney & Shetland, Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands. These areas can expect wide snow accumulations from 2 to 5 cm fairly widely with up to 10 cm in some areas, especially in the northern mainland – 15 to 20 cm could accumulate on higher grounds.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: “A northerly airflow will continue to feed snow showers into Scotland over the next few days, with this reaching lower levels at times and bringing the potential for some travel disruption.”
Icy stretches are expected to form on untreated surfaces during Thursday evening and overnight into Friday morning, as temperatures drop below freezing, especially following any showers.
There is a small chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected. Minor travel delays are also possible, while some rural communities face being cut off.
There is a small chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel. Pedestrians should also be cautious, as the Met Office also warns of the potential for slips from icy surfaces.
Looking to Saturday, a shift to more widely wet and windy conditions is expected, with warnings already issued to highlight potential disruption from rain and snow. Conditions are to switch between snow and rain, with forecasters warning of flooding that could develop into fast flowing water.
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Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: “Winter hazards will gradually diminish through the weekend, though they will hold on longest in northern Scotland. Substantial snowfall is expected across much of northern England and Scotland for a time on Saturday, mainly over higher ground.”
A shift to milder air will be accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds through Saturday and into Sunday, with low pressure in charge of the UK’s weather.
Mike continued: “Rain on Saturday and into Sunday is likely to be impactful for some, which has resulted in warnings being issued for Wales and parts of the southwest. Widely, 50-75 mm is expected within the warning areas, but in excess of 150 mm of rain is possible over high ground in south Wales. Strong winds are likely to exacerbate impacts and brings the potential for travel disruption as well as flooding for some.”
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