Fresh yellow warning issued by Met Office for parts of the Highlands; ice alert follows on from existing snow and ice warning on Friday; new warning covers parts of Sutherland, Ross-shire, Inverness-shire and Lochaber
FORECASTS for plummeting temperatures followed by freezing rain and sleet have sparked a fresh Met Office weather warning.
The mercury is expected to plunge across the Highlands on Friday night, before slightly warmer air moves in from the north-west – bringing some inland snow, as well as rain and sleet.
And the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice, amid fears that the rain and sleet will freeze when it hits the frigid ground.
The warning will come into force at midnight tonight (Friday) and will remain in place until 11am on Saturday.
The alert covers swathes of Sutherland, Ross-shire, Inverness-shire and parts of Lochaber.
A Met Office spokesman said: "Outbreaks of rain and sleet preceded briefly by a little snow inland, will gradually move east later in the night and on Saturday morning. Rain falling onto frozen surfaces will lead to a risk of ice in places."
Before the rain and sleet arrives, parts of the Highlands could experience their coldest night of the winter so far – with Met Office forecasters predicting some parts of Scotland could experience temperatures as low as -15C.
The latest warning comes on top of an existing alert for snow and ice, which is in force for part of the Highlands throughout Friday.
Click here for the latest Met Office weather warnings.
Related news: Ross-shire again the coldest spot in the Highlands after mercury plummets to -11.2C at Inchbae Lodge
