Met Office weather maps show snow is expected in six Scottish counties on Friday as Storm Austen moves across the UK, bringing fierce winds and heavy rain to much of the country.
Weather warnings for wind are in place covering parts of Wales and southern England from midnight on Thursday until 2pm on Friday, with exposed coastal areas potentially seeing gusts of 70mph.
Snow expected in Scotland
The maps indicate snow forming over northern and western Scotland from 10am on Friday, while rain affects the rest of the country. The snow is expected to intensify over high ground by 1pm and drift eastwards towards Aberdeenshire by 4pm.
The six counties that could see flurries are Ross-shire and Cromartyshire, Inverness-shire, Banffshire, Aberdeenshire, Perthshire and Argyllshire - all in Scotland.
Storm Austen arrives Thursday evening
The Met Office said Thursday would be a "chilly start" for many, with heavy showers early on expected to clear, making it a "largely dry day with sunny spells". Storm Austen is expected to make landfall in the south-west on Thursday evening.
For Friday and Saturday, the Met Office said: "Remaining unsettled with showers and longer spells of rain throughout the coming days. Very windy for a time on Friday in the southwest as Storm Austen moves across the country."
Second storm possible on Saturday
BBC Weather forecasters say another storm could follow on Saturday after Austen. Although it is "not expected to be as severe as Austen" and is unlikely to be named, the BBC says this "deep area of low pressure" could bring gusts of 80mph to Scotland.
"Delays or cancellations to ferries and restrictions on bridges" are possible for Scotland, the BBC adds. "It will turn windy elsewhere across the UK throughout Saturday with heavy rain spreading east for most of us."
