Scots could be treated to a glimpse of the Northern Lights this weekend amid a spell of warm weather and clear skies.
A burst of unseasonably temperatures for the end of October will see the mercury rise to a balmy 15C in parts of Scotland on Saturday. The mild conditions are thanks to warm air travelling from the Azores in southern Europe.
Stargazers this Halloween weekend will have a chance of spotting the ethereal show also known as aurora borealis. The Met Office has reported the display will be visible on Friday and Saturday thanks to skies clearing up across the country.
Read on for when and where to best see the Northern Lights.
On Friday, heavy rain will sweep quickly northeastward across the country, but will turn mostly dry and with sunny spells by the afternoon. However, a few showers will affect Northern Ireland and western Scotland, but will remain mild.
Saturday will bring cloud and outbreaks of rain across the north, which will be heavy at times in the west. Mild, sunny spells are to emerge in the far north and later in the south.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern reported that warmer temperatures are down to a plume of warm air from the Azores being sent north by the jet stream.
He said: "What we've got during the next few days is the jet stream coming out of North America, and then strengthening on the other side of the Atlantic, because of this temperature contrast between north of the jet stream and south of the jet stream."
"Then, the jet stream dips close to the Azores before pushing north again during Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and the weekend as the warm air pushed north across Europe.
"It will be unusually warm for much of the continent, not just the UK."
Northern Lights in Scotland
The Northern Lights - the stunning dance of green and purple colours in the night sky - could be appearing over Scotland soon.
The Met Office has put Scots on alert to the display on Friday and Saturday. The aurora borealis is best seen under clear conditions, and, luckily, forecasters have said they will be visible across Scotland this weekend.
Those at a higher latitudes have the best chance of seeing the phenomenon. However, with skies likely to clear up throughout Saturday night, this will make them visible across most of the country.
"A more significant enhancement may occur late tomorrow and overnight into the 30th, with aurora potentially visible across more of Scotland where clear skies occur during night time hours," reports the Met Office space forecast.
Met Office's five-day forecast
Today:
Heavy at times, will sweep quickly northeastward across most parts. Turning mostly dry with sunny spells by afternoon, although a few showers will affect Northern Ireland and western Scotland. Remaining very mild.
Tonight:
Isolated showers in the northwest will gradually fade otherwise it will be dry with clear spells at first. A few fog patches developing before cloud and rain move north later.
Saturday:
Cloud and outbreaks of rain will move north, heavy at times in the west. Dry with sunny spells in the far north and later in the south. Very mild.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
A mix of sunshine or clear periods with blustery showers, sometimes merging into longer periods of rain, more frequent in the west and occasionally heavy and thundery. Still mild overnight.
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