Stirling is to see its first snowfall of the year after the Met Office issued a weather warning for blizzard-like conditions as Storm Éowyn gets set to batter the country.
An amber weather warning has been issued, with forecasters warning of “very strong winds and widespread disruption”. The warning is in effect from 6am until 9pm on Friday.
A yellow weather warning for snow has been issued from Friday morning, which could bring disruption to the region’s road and railway network.
The warning is in place from 3am on Friday until noon and is in force across the majority of the country.
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A Met Office forecaster said: “Storm Éowyn will move across the northwest of the UK on Friday, clearing to the northeast on Friday night. This will bring a spell of very strong west to southwesterly winds, with peak gusts of 60-70mph fairly widely inland, 70-80mph in some areas, and 80-90mph along more exposed coasts and hills – perhaps even higher in a few locations.
“It should be noted that there may be a slight reduction in wind strength for a time as the centre of Storm Éowyn passes overhead, this most likely in parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland, before winds rapidly increase again. Winds will gradually ease later on Friday.”
On the snow warning, the forecaster added: “Outbreaks of rain spreading northeastward on Friday morning will fall as snow initially, especially on hills, before reverting to rain and eventually easing. Any accumulations across northern England and southern Scotland will be fairly short-lived and largely on hills, where 2-5cm may accumulate in places above 100m elevation and 5-10cm above 300m.
“Snow will probably persist for longer north of the Central Belt, where as much as 15-25cm is possible above 300m. Given the strong winds that will accompany the snow, temporary blizzard conditions are possible over higher ground, with some drifting also possible for a time, this probably more likely north of the Central Belt.”