The Met Office has issued a fresh weather warning for snow across large parts of central and northern Scotland.
The yellow warning comes amid Storm Darragh, which is expected to disrupt the UK with strong winds of up to 80mph in the south of Scotland and coastal areas.
A warning for snow will come into force from 8pm on Friday until 9am on Saturday and covers Angus, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Grampian, Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Highlands & Islands, Strathclyde, Argyll and Bute, East Dunbartonshire and North Lanarkshire.
Around 2 to 5cm of snow is expected to fall above 200 or 300m, with 10 to 20cm above 400m, bringing difficult driving conditions and possible disruption on higher routes.
Snow is also likely to drift over the hills in northern areas. In the affected areas, it will become more showery and turn to rain or sleet through Saturday morning.
Police Scotland are asking drivers to consider if their journey is necessary with a high risk of disruption and delay on potentially hazardous roads.
Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, head of Road Policing, said: “Drivers of vehicles vulnerable to being blown over should plan their route to avoid exposed areas, or consider delaying your journey until conditions improve.
“Plan ahead and keep updated by checking the Met Office and Traffic Scotland websites and social media.”
Meanwhile, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway could see strong winds of between 70 and 80mph on Saturday from 3am until 9pm at night.
A yellow wind warning covering most of central and southern Scotland is in force from 3pm on Friday. The Met Office forecasts the storm will bring disruption and damage.
Insight Philip Petrie
To coincide with Storm Darragh’s arrival, the Met Office has issued a Yellow Weather Warning for Snow covering parts of Angus, Falkirk, Perth & Kinross, Stirling, Moray, Aberdeenshire, the Highlands, East Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, and Argyll & Bute.
As Storm Darragh makes its way across the country, it brings with it a large band of heavy and persistent rain. However, as that rain bumps into the colder air further north, it will fall as snow, which will cause some disruption to higher routes.
It is expected within the warning area that we could see 2-5cm above 200/300m and 10-20cm above 400m. Added to this, we already have a wind weather warning in place, which could lead to some snow drifts, and also a rain weather warning further south covering much of central and southern Scotland.
Storm Darragh: Flooding, risk of flying debris and danger to life
The alert for wind on Saturday – named Storm Darragh – is in place across southwest Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, coastal parts of England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
A flood risk warning is in place across Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City, Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire and Arran, Central, Dumfries and Galloway and Dundee and Angus across Friday and Saturday.
Edinburgh and Lothians, Fife, Scottish Borders, Tayside, and West Central Scotland are also covered by the alert from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Meteorologists warned of potential damage to buildings and flying debris. Injuries and danger to life is said to be likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties.
Falling trees pose a risk of hazards on roads, with travel and transport disruption on rail, ferry and air services likely.
27 areas across Scotland will be affected by rain associated with the storm.
People are being advised to stay indoors as much as possible and not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees.
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