THE Met Office has issued fresh warnings for the majority of Scotland as snow is expected to fall across the country this weekend.

Heavy snow is expected on Saturday followed by a “rapid thaw” and rain on Saturday night across much of Scotland.

The Met Office issued a yellow warning for the weather weekend event and said there is a chance floodwater could cause danger to life, some rural communities could become cut off, and there may be travel disruption.

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It comes after several yellow weather warnings throughout the week, including one for snow and hail across parts of north and west Scotland for Wednesday at 10am until Thursday at midday.

Between 2cm and 5cm (up to 2in) of snow is expected widely and it could reach 10cm in some parts of the north-west mainland, with higher ground seeing 15cm to 20cm (up to 7.8in), the Met Office said.

The Scottish council areas expected to see snow and rain are: 

  • Angus
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Falkirk
  • Fife
  • Perth and Kinross
  • Stirling
  • Aberdeenshire
  • Moray
  • Highland
  • Dumfries and Galloway
  • East Lothian
  • Edinburgh
  • Midlothian Council
  • Scottish Borders
  • West Lothian
  • Argyll and Bute
  • East Ayrshire
  • East Dunbartonshire
  • East Renfrewshire
  • Glasgow
  • Inverclyde
  • North Ayrshire
  • North Lanarkshire
  • Renfrewshire
  • South Ayrshire
  • South Lanarkshire
  • West Dunbartonshire

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season, warning conditions could be dangerous for vulnerable people, including the elderly.

Met Office spokesperson Andrea Bishop said: “A deep area of low pressure is expected to bring a spell of prolonged and, at times, heavy rainfall across a large part of the UK this weekend.

“Across south-west England, rain is expected to develop during Saturday morning with heavier rain likely later in the day and overnight into early Sunday morning.

“Fifty to 75mm of rain is expected to fall fairly widely during this time with a chance that some places over Dartmoor could see 100-125mm. Strong southerly winds will accompany the heavy rain and may locally exacerbate impacts.”

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Altnaharra, Sutherland, saw 14cm of snow, 8cm was recorded at Loch Glascarnoch in the Scottish Highlands, and 6cm in Thorncliffe, Staffordshire.

More than 100 schools or nurseries were closed in Scotland on Wednesday because of the weather, with 52 shut in the Highland Council area, 51 in Aberdeenshire, 11 in Moray and two in Shetland.

The coldest temperature recorded overnight on Tuesday was -11.2C in Braemar.

Why won't my car start in the cold?

A sharp rise in vehicle breakdowns has also been reported as drivers’ batteries failed on Wednesday morning due to cold weather, the RAC said.

The AA has predicted “a major increase in (its) workload” due to sub-zero temperatures, snow and ice, and it urged drivers to check forecasts before travelling and to do so with “extreme caution” in the hardest-hit areas.

RAC Breakdown spokeswoman, Alice Simpson said: “The first taste of winter means drivers are suddenly contending with the some of the worst road conditions we’ve seen all year.

“With freezing temperatures already causing disruption in the east and north of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and snow showers now affecting regions further south, we advise motorists to plan well as ice forms on untreated surfaces.”

How to de-ice car windows

Another RAC spokesperson, Rod Dennis, called on motorists to properly de-ice vehicles and ensure the entire windscreen is clear rather than rushing out of the house “with a tiny little space” to see the road.

He added: “We’ve seen, as you would probably expect, a really sharp rise in breakdowns – predominantly from a lot of people’s batteries failing in the cold, which is inevitable.”

“Adopt a cautious driving style” in areas with risk of black ice and “be gentle on the accelerator, never be tempted to step on the brake” as it could cause issues on slippery roads, he said.