Snow could fall in Scotland next week as temperatures plummet despite it being 71 days until the official start of winter.
The Met Office said that from Monday there could be some snow showers over the hills in the Highlands and the Cairngorms.
However, from the middle of next week, temperatures are expected to rise again with a return to wet and windy autumnal conditions.
The latest predictions come after snow fell in the Cairngorms and eastern Highlands late last week.
Met Office forecaster Annie Shuttleworth said: “From Monday there are some signals of some snow showers over the hills in Scotland, fairly typical for the time of year.
“We’re not expecting snow in any low lying areas. Or any disruption from it.
“That’s just early next week this risk, from midweek onwards, temperatures are looking to return back to closer to average with more wetter and windier typical autumnal weather and no risk of snow.
“It’s relatively short-lived and small risk, nothing that will be too disruptive or that’s unusual.”
She said there may also be an overnight risk of frost in northern parts of Scotland early next week, though it will feel warm enough in the day.
Winter across the UK might feel like it has started as early as September, but it actually begins a lot later than the current chilly conditions might suggest.
The Met Office use a meteorological definition of the seasons. By this calendar, the first day of winter is always 1 December; ending on 28 (or 29 during a Leap Year) February.
