SCOTS across the country will be getting out their hats, scarves, and gloves amid a cold snap sweeping the nation and forecasts of freezing rain.
High pressure to the north and east of the UK from Scandinavia continues to bring cloud and cold air across the country, with a chance of some snow over higher ground in Scotland this weekend.
On Friday night, a rain weather front will move in from the west, bringing a risk of some snow over higher areas of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Borders, and Midlothian.
This will likely to turn back to rain in the early hours of Saturday.
What is freezing rain?
Freezing rain is rare and only happens when the air above is too warm for snow but the ground is cold. This means the rain that falls and lands quickly turns into ice.
As the raindrop splashes, the water splays out before it freezes, covering whatever it has landed on in a layer of ice.
The weight of the ice sheet can potentially create disruptions with power lines and trees snapping and falling. Roads can also be covered in black ice.
Will Scotland see snow this weekend?
Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: “Through Saturday the rain will move further east and as it does, it’ll bump into the colder air meaning some snow is likely, mainly for parts of Northern England, covered by the snow and ice warning.
"Two to five centimetres is possible over the Cheviots and North Yorks Moors, and it's possible we could see some localised accumulations to lower levels. Some freezing rain could affect higher parts of the Pennines for a time too leading to icy conditions.
"Some snow is possible outside the warning area, although amounts are likely to be small.”
What is the weather forecast for next week?
Brighter conditions with spells of sunshine are likely to develop for many areas on Tuesday before milder and more unsettled conditions begin to move in from the Atlantic during the second half of next week.
