Fifth weather alert in as many days as Met Office warns of snow
A FIFTH severe weather warning has now been issued for the area in as many days after the Met Office issued a snow alert.
The warning for snow and ice takes effect at 6pm this evening and will remain in place until noon on Wednesday.
Met Office forecasters are warning of as much as three inches of snow in some higher communities.
But snow at low levels is also likely.
A spokesman for the Met Office said: "Frequent showers of sleet or snow will affect Scotland and Northern Ireland from Monday evening into Tuesday. Accumulations of 2-4cm of snow are likely above about 100metres, but also to low levels locally, and more widely over the northern half of Scotland, where more than 10cm is likely above 300 metres.
"Icy patches are likely to develop from early this evening. Hail and lightning will be additional hazards, especially close to western coasts.
"During Tuesday the risk of snow extends into northern England, especially across the Pennines and higher parts of Cumbria. Meanwhile, a more persistent spell of sleet and snow may settle at low levels across Scotland on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.
"The public should be aware of the risk of disruption to transport."
The warning for snow comes after an amber alert and two yellow warnings for severe gales over the weekend. A fourth alert, a yellow warning for snow and ice, was also in place on Saturday into Sunday.
In other news, the number of homes in the north of Scotland still without power following Friday's hurricane-force winds has fallen to 609 as of 5.30pm on Monday.
The latest figure is down more than 300 on the previous update of 918, which was issued at 2pm. At that time 210 of the homes without power were in the Inverness area. It is unclear how many of the remaining 609 homes without power in the north of Scotland are local.
Meanwhile, the energy giant's free hot food and drink facilities are still in operation in the Nairn and Muir of Ord areas for the remaining local homes still in the blackout.
The details are:
• Nairn area - Mr Tan Chinese Takeaway, Nairn – open from 4.30pm and can deliver.
• Muir of Ord - Finnies Chip Shop.
