Storm Isha weather warning follows snow disruption

The Met Office has issued a new and extended amber warning for high winds with Storm Isha due to hit most of Scotland.

Yellow weather warnings for high winds and heavy rain have also been issued for large parts of the country.

The latest winter storm, forecast for Sunday and Monday, follows a week of disruption caused by snow in north and north east Scotland.

The wind warning, which will be in place from 18:00 on Sunday until 09:00 on Monday, forecasts gusts reaching up to 80mph over some exposed coastal areas.

A snowy Gairloch in Wester Ross on Thursday

The warning comes as snow and ice continued to affect schools in parts of Scotland for a fifth day.

All schools in Shetland are again closed following days of heavy snowfall.

Ullapool High School, Dingwall Academy and Inverness' Charleston Academy and Inverness Royal Academy are among more than 200 Highland Council schools closed.

More than 60 schools in Aberdeenshire will also remain closed and almost 20 in Moray are affected by the weather.

Snow being cleared from Inverness Caledonian Thistle's pitch on Friday

Met Office chief meteorologist Dan Suri said Storm Isha would bring strong winds to the whole of the UK at the weekend.

He said: "We could see gusts frequently between 50-60mph and even up to 80mph in exposed coastal locations.

"Heavy rain will cause additional hazards, particularly in the west.

"A number of severe weather warnings for rain have also been issued."

Met Office yellow and amber warnings can mean the potential for travel disruption and damage to property.

Scotland's Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop said the public should be prepared for disruption to travel and transport services.

She said: "Police Scotland’s advice is to expect a high risk of disruption across the amber warning areas – but there will be impacts across the whole of Scotland that we will need to look out for.

"Planning ahead will be vital and you’ll need to allow extra time for your journey if you do need to travel."

A cleared road in Orphir in Orkney where heavy snowfall caused disruption this week

Scottish Borders Council said people in its area should be prepared for the potential of wind gusting to 80mph.

It said it would have staff on standby to help deal with incidents such as fallen trees, if it was safe to do so.

Parts of southern and central Scotland, the north east and the Highlands could also see heavy rain on Sunday.

Up to 50mm (2in) is expected over high ground bringing a risk of flooding, with a steady thaw of any remaining snow.

'Potent storm'

BBC Scotland weather present Judith Ralston said Arctic air had plunged temperatures to -14C at Dalwhinnie in the Highlands, with snow accumulations of 28cm (11in) at Lerwick in Shetland and Altnaharra in Sutherland.

But she added: "This weekend we'll see a dramatic change to Scotland's weather as we cut off the feed of very cold Arctic air to much milder wet and windy Atlantic conditions.

"Storm Isha is expected to develop during Saturday and will be driven towards Scotland by the powerful winds.

"Add in the extra energy in the atmosphere and we have all the ingredients for a very potent storm.

"It's one that will need to be watched closely."