Scotland is set to be hit with snow and ice this weekend, as temperatures plummeted to below minus 10C in some areas overnight.
Met Office weather warnings remain in place up and down the UK, covering most of Scotland.
A yellow warning for ice came into force on Friday afternoon, affecting almost the whole of Scotland, and is set to end at 10am on Saturday, January 4. A further warning for snow is set to begin at midnight on Saturday, lasting until noon on Monday.
Weather maps show large parts of Scotland expected to see significant snowfall until the beginning of next week, particularly on Sunday, January 5, and Monday, January 6.
The north of Scotland is expected to be affected the most by snow, just a few days after difficult conditions saw three hill walkers stranded in the Cairngorms on Thursday. A mountain rescue operation, including the use of a helicopter, saw them return safely.
Braemar Mountain Rescue Team advised anyone heading for the hills to be prepared and take safety precautions. Friday night’s Scottish Championship match between Airdrie and Falkirk was also postponed due to a frozen pitch.
Forecasters have warned temperatures will be unlikely to rise above freezing in the coming days, with further warnings possible. They also advised taking care in difficult conditions, and leaving more time for journeys.
The change in weather comes as large parts of the UK expect to see heavy snow and freezing rain which could lead to disruption this weekend amid two amber weather warnings for some areas of England and Wales. Stranded vehicles on the roads, delayed or cancelled rail and air travel and power cuts are all likely as the country grapples with a week-long spell of wintry conditions, the Met Office said.
There is also a “good chance” that rural communities could be cut off due to the weather, with up to 30cm of snowfall expected in some areas.
Temperatures of minus 10C were forecast in parts of rural Scotland on Friday night, according to a Met Office forecast. The coldest temperature recorded in January last year was minus 14C, in Dalwhinnie in the Highlands.
An amber warning for snow and rare freezing rain covering most of Wales and central England, including the Midlands and the north-west cities of Liverpool and Manchester, is in place from 6pm on Saturday to midday on Sunday.
The second warning for snow, covering most of northern England including Leeds, Sheffield and the Lake District, has been issued from 9pm on Saturday to midnight on Sunday. Both of the warning areas can expect to see 3cm to 7cm of snowfall widely, while snow may mix with rain at times in lower-lying areas, the forecaster said.
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Three separate yellow weather warnings for snow and ice will be in force for most areas of the UK, covering different periods of time until Monday afternoon. National Highways warned a “spell of disruptive snow” would spread across southern and central parts of the road network on Saturday night.
Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly said some “significant accumulations” of snow are possible in parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England, and the additional factor of strengthening winds could lead to drifting of lying snow.
He continued: “There is a risk of freezing rain across parts of the Midlands and northern England, but especially Wales, adding to the risk of ice and leading to some treacherous conditions in places. As the super-cooled rain droplets hit the surface they instantly freeze, covering everything in a layer of ice, making it extremely dangerous.”
Some football games have been called off, including Cheltenham’s clash with League Two leaders Walsall which was due to take place on Saturday, Halifax’s National League home game against Fylde which was also set for Saturday. Saturday’s race meeting at Newcastle has been abandoned because the course is frozen.
Milder air will briefly cover some southern areas during the weekend before a new northerly flow allows colder conditions to return across the UK next week, the Met Office said. Deputy chief forecaster Dan Holley said temperatures would remain below average with some areas struggling to get above freezing for several days.
Further weather warnings could be issued for the start of next week.
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