Snow warning as Scotland hit by freezing weather

Scotland is continuing to be hit by freezing weather, with rain, sleet and snow expected to fall across large parts of the country.

Temperatures at Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands fell to -11C on Saturday night after forecasters extended a yellow warning from 09:00 on Sunday until 12:00 on Monday.

The Met Office also issued a separate yellow warning for snow covering much of the northern and western part of the country from 12:00 on Sunday until 11:00 on Monday morning, while another yellow alert covers eastern and central Scotland from 09:00 on Sunday until 12:00 on Monday.

Forecasters said as much as 15cm of snow could fall in higher areas of the Borders during that period.

A car went off the road in snow on the A920, Huntly to Dufftown road in Aberdeenshire

They said the rest of the country could expect to see wintry showers and between 1cm-5cm of snowfall away from coastal areas.

Rain or sleet is more likely to fall in the east of Scotland.

Forecasters urged anyone leaving their homes over the next 48 hours to exercise caution when walking outside due to ice on paths and pavements.

Heavy snow has fallen in Stow in the Borders

Snowy scene in Eskdalemuir in Dumfries and Galloway

It comes after several days of freezing conditions and a number of weather warnings blanketed parts of the UK in snow.

BBC Weather presenter Calum MacColl warned the conditions could cause some disruption.

He said: "From midnight on Sunday, through to 06:00 on Monday, this yellow warning for snow will cover much of southern Scotland, stretching up to parts of the central belt, North Lanarkshire, Falkirk, in to the Edinburgh area too.

"Within this zone, there is scope for about 2-5cm of snow, even to low levels, but there will be significant snowfall across the Southern Uplands, into the Borders, the Cheviots, the Pentlands, where we could see up to 15cm of snow.

"Coupled with a gusty easterly wind, that snow will be blowing around and may drift into some carriageways and blocking some roads, potentially."

Up to 15cm of snow could fall in the Pentland Hills, near Edinburgh, on Sunday and Monday

Snow has fallen across large parts of the north of Scotland, including Aberdeen

Football matches in Greenock, Elgin and Peterhead were called off due to the conditions on Saturday.

A full card of Premiership fixtures is due to take place on Sunday afternoon.

A more severe amber warning for snow is in place just south of the border between 21:00 on Saturday and midnight on Sunday.

It has caused serious disruption, with Manchester and Liverpool John Lennon Airports both closing runways on Sunday morning due to heavy snow.

Prof Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said: "We've had snow across Scotland in the last few days but there is quite a lot of disruptive snow on the way for parts of England, Wales and moving in to Scotland hence that yellow snow warning in place from midnight tonight."

Warm hubs

Warm hubs have been set up across the country to help people during cold weather.

The Eskdalemuir community hub in Dumfries and Galloway, which houses a cafe, was set up three years ago following the hardship to people caused by Storm Arwen.

Lara Porter, operational development manager, told BBC Scotland News: "We've set up a warm hub three days a week, providing hot food for people.

"Eskdalemuir has a lot of single, older ladies and now with people going onto air source heat pumps and things they are struggling a bit more to keep themselves warm if there's no electric.

"We decided we should be doing something for our local community to make sure that people in the village are not on their own and in times of need we can open up and provide a service for them."

She added: "There's always somebody willing to help somebody else if they're in need."