Na Gruagaichean (Highland) weather

Headline:

Light sleet and snow, becoming drier and brighter later.

Today:

Dry and bright in the east at first otherwise cloudy with light sleet and snow in the west. The sleet and snow will spread east from the morning but will clear later in the afternoon as bright spells return. Maximum temperature 4 °C.

Tonight:

The odd wintry shower over the Western Isles otherwise mostly dry with clear periods which, together with light winds, will lead to a widespread frost, severe in places. Minimum temperature -9 °C.

Friday:

The odd wintry shower over the Western Isles dying during the afternoon. Dry over the mainland. Maximum temperature 3 °C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Wintry coastal showers Saturday, dry inland. Mostly dry Sunday. A band of snow will push northeast Sunday night. The snow will clear from the southwest early Monday.

This period carries much more uncertainty than usual as milder air from the Atlantic attempts to displace the cold air over the UK. On balance milder, or at least less cold conditions are likely to make some progress into the country by Monday, bringing a spell of snow for some areas, most likely central and northern parts with rain more likely across the south and west, before it either clears or dies out. Its uncertain as to whether these less cold conditions ever reach the extreme north and east, and here it may well remain cold throughout. Further into next week its likely to remain cold across the north and east, these colder condition possibly extending back into the rest of the country.

The outlook through the latter part of January and into the start of February is typically uncertain. A broadly southwesterly regime is marginally favoured bringing changeable conditions and spells of wet, windy and mild weather are likely, potentially with some very strong winds at times. However there is a chance that drier and colder conditions could extend into the UK from the east or northeast, along with a risk of some snow.