The Met Office have clarified whether Scotland will experience a rare burst of thundersnow as the country endures unsettled conditions.
The phenomenon occurs when thunderstorms are whipped up in wintry conditions and was last reported in Aberdeenshire earlier this month. Irish meteorologists have forecasted thundersnow could appear again in the British Isles on December 29.
While Scotland has just been issued its fifth alert this week on Tuesday morning, the forecasters have indicated thundersnow is unlikely. Indeed, any further warnings are more likely to cover rain and strong wind.
Meteorologist Greg Dewhurst told the Daily Record: "There is the risk of some heavy showers in between bouts of rain pushing through over the next few days. It could contain the risk of hail and thunder at some times.
"With the cold air over or near Scotland, there is potential for this to be combined with one or two thundery showers. So we could get one or two wintry showers combined with thunder and lightning."
He continued: "But in terms of warnings at the moment, the northern half of the UK is to be covered in snow and ice and, over the next few days, the potential for some further warnings, but mainly based around the risks of stronger winds and outbreaks of rain rather than thunderstorms and lightning."
This comes as reports in Ireland have predicted the phenomenon could occur this week as the country is set to see hail, ice, sleet and freezing temperatures.
Irish forecaster Met Eireann said: "Thursday will be a fresh and blustery day with sunshine and showers, some falling as sleet and snow on hills and with thunder at times, the showers will be most frequent in western and northern coastal counties. Highest temperatures of 5C to 8C in fresh to strong and gusty southwest to west winds.”
This sparked worries that the UK could be in for the same weather after the Met Office issued four yellow weather warnings for snow and ice on Monday and Tuesday.
The latest alert released yesterday warned that more elevated parts of the country will see up to 10cm of snow until Tuesday evening. A separate ice warning has also been issued and the combination of snow, ice and rain could see bouts of thundersnow hit for a second time this month.
Weather radar maps from WXCharts showed large fronts of heavy rain arriving from the Atlantic to the UK in multiple waves over the next few days - with some likely to fall as snow in colder areas.
Here's everything you need to know about Scotland's latest yellow weather warning, including how long it is set to last.
Scotland's ice warning on Tuesday and Wednesday
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning in northern Scotland which will see icy patches form as a result of unsettled conditions.
The warning is in place for Tuesday, December 27 from 3pm and will last until Wednesday, December 28 until 10 am.
"Patchy ice is expected to develop on untreated surfaces as rain and snow eases this evening," reports the Met Office.
"A band of rain and snow will clear north through Tuesday afternoon and evening with scattered showers following through the first part of Tuesday night.
"With surfaces falling below freezing after dusk, patchy ice is likely to develop on untreated surfaces with the potential for some wash-off of previously treated surfaces where showers fall."
Scotland weather forecast
Today:
Milder, wetter, windier weather moving northeastwards. Some heavy rain across western hills but snow more likely for parts of the north, especially hills in northern Scotland. Drier in west later.
Tonight:
Rain clearing east but probably lingering in the far north. Elsewhere, a lot of dry weather developing but rain redeveloping in the south later. A patchy frost in the north.
Wednesday:
Rain returning north through the day, heaviest over hills in the southwest. Showers following later, locally heavy. Windy with coastal gales in the south. Mild away from the north.
Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:
Unsettled with blustery showers Thursday, heaviest/most widespread in the north and west. After a dry start Friday, further wet and windy weather will cross all areas, clearing to showers Saturday.
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