Drivers warned of icy roads and very high winds
DRIVERS heading out on Scotland’s roads today to visit relatives for festive catch-ups should watch out for icy roads and storms, forecasters warned.
A yellow Be Aware warning is in place from the Met Office for most of Scotland and the north of England as icy conditions are expected this morning.
Motorists are advised to be aware of ice on untreated surfaces, especially side roads, while those out for a morning walk should be mindful of the potential for slippery pavements.
Heavy rain and winds of up to 50mph will sweep over much of the UK this weekend.
Rain, sleet and snow may affect south west Scotland, Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Borders, forecasters said.
MeteoGroup forecast manager Paul Knightley warned people planning to travel on Boxing Day night or Saturday to keep a close eye on forecasts as there is the potential for disruption as a storm sets in.
Mr Knightley said: “Overnight on Boxing Day the rain will sweep across all areas along with winds of 40-50mph.
“People need to watch the weather news so they don’t get caught out while travelling on Saturday.”
Last night, the Highlands remained the most likely place to see a white Christmas with Coral putting Aberdeen as the favourite with odds of 5-2, Edinburgh and Glasgow both at 4-1, London at 8-1 and Cardiff at 10-1. But Mr Knightley said unless families were planning a trip up the mountains they would not be seeing snow.
He said: “It’s certainly not a White Christmas this year, away from the Highlands and perhaps the Yorkshire Pennines. The snowy Christmas card theme rarely ever occurs in this country.
“It’s actually about average for this time of year, dry and fine with temperatures of between four and nine degrees in England.
“It could drop to zero degrees in the Highlands and go up to 10C in Cornwall and Devon but this is around average.”
Transport Scotland said it was closely monitoring conditions. A spokesman said: “As ever, the public has a vital role to play in terms of helping to minimise disruption.
“We would advise people to prepare for some travel disruption as bridges could be affected by high winds and driving conditions could be challenging in some areas, so please allow extra time for your journeys.
“They should also check the relevant websites, such as Traffic Scotland, for up-to-date travel information before they set off.”