ANYONE living in Scotland will know how common it is for weather warnings to come into force.
These can be for a variety of reasons, including rain, ice, wind or heat depending on the time of year.
Here’s a look at what you need to know.
What are the different weather warnings?
The UK’s official weather service, the Met Office, is responsible for issuing warnings which detail the potential impacts of severe weather.
They are used to let people, businesses and emergency responders know what might be in store.
According to the Met Office’s website, warnings can be provided up to seven days ahead for rain, thunderstorms, wind, snow, lightning, ice, extreme heat and fog.
The severity of the warning is determined by a colour – yellow, amber and red.
Are there any warnings in place right now?
There are currently no warnings in place for Scotland.
Yellow warning
This can be issued for a range of situations and are generally issued when the weather is likely to cause some “low level impacts”.
The Met Office does state however that “many people may be able to continue with their daily routine”.
The forecaster says: “It is important to read the content of yellow warnings to determine which weather situation is being covered by the yellow warning.”
Amber warning
The next level on the scale is an amber warning which means an “increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather which could potentially disrupt your plans”.
Potential reasons for an amber warning include the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures and power cuts.
The Met Office says: “You should think about changing your plans and taking action to protect yourself and your property.
“You may want to consider the impact of the weather on your family and your community and whether there is anything you need to do ahead of the severe weather to minimise the impact.”
Red warning
The most severe of the alerts, a red warning means that “dangerous weather is expected” and that “you should take action to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of severe weather”.
A red warning means it is likely that “there will be a risk to life” as well as disruption to travel and energy supplies.
The Met Office says you should “avoid travelling, where possible, and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities” when a red warning is issued.
Red warnings are rare with one issued last year when Storm Babet hit Scotland.
