Storm Gladys could hit Scotland today with heavy snow showers, strong winds, and even the chance of lightning in another spell of extreme weather.
The Met Office has issued two weather warnings in Scotland in force Wednesday and Thursday as an astonishing fourth storm threatens to wallop the UK in the space of just seven days.
Snowfall of up to 10cm is forecast in the lowlands and 30cm on hills as gusts of wind could reach 70mph today.
Much of Scotland - including the central belt, west coast, Fife and the Highlands - face a snow and lightning warning from 1pm today until 3pm tomorrow.
The Met Office changed the joint wind and snow weather warning to a snow and lightning weather warning at about 10am Wednesday morning.
Southeast Scotland has been issued a wind warning from 6am through 3pm today.
Scots are facing chaotic travel disruptions on the roads, trains and ferries.
The weather with Storm Gladys - which is due to be the next named storm - includes an appearance of thundersnow, a weather phenomenon described by the Met Office as heavy downpours of snow.
Since Storm Dudley hit last week, the weather has been in turns torrential, freezing and icy with fearsome winds after Storm Eunice and Franklin thrashed the UK in quick succession.
The Met Office could name this wave of severe weather Storm Gladys, though the forecaster hasn't yet confirmed this.
Read on for the details of the two weather warnings ahead of Storm Gladys.
Snow and lightning weather warning February 23 and 24
Time : 1pm Wednesday February 24 to 3pm Thursday, February 24
Regarding the snow and lightning weather warning, the Met Office says: "Frequent heavy snow showers are expected, along with very gusty winds and a chance of frequent lightning affecting some places."
What to expect from the snow and lightning warning
- There is a small chance of longer journey times or cancellations as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected. There is also a chance some vehicles and passengers could become stranded.
- There is a slight chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage.
- There is a slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off.
- A small chance of injuries and danger to life from lightning strikes.
- Where lightning strikes occur, there is a small chance that building/structures could be damaged
Wind weather warning Thursday, February 24
Time : 6am to 3pm Wednesday February 24
As for the wind warning in southwest Scotland, the forecaster wrote: "Strong winds are expected for time on Wednesday."
What to expect from the wind warning
- Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges likely
- Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely
- Probably some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer
- Some short term loss of power and other services is possible
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