Sleet, ice and snow to affect Isles

Overnight showers of hail, sleet and snow have resulted in icy conditions across some parts of the Isles this morning. Dr. Eddie Graham, weather correspondent for the Stornoway Gazette, reports a minimum air temperature of -1Â°C in Stornoway town this morning, together with a very low -6Â°C on the ground.

According to Eddie, the cold and icy weather is here to stay for a few days at least. However, the good news is that it is likely to be much drier and brighter than of late, with some nice crisp winter sunshine at times.

Heavy snow and hail showers are also likely too though – and some significant lying snow is possible, especially later on Friday, says Eddie.

Extremely temperatures below -10C are possible on the mainland over the coming weekend.

The change in the weather to more winter-like conditions has followed one of the wettest and mildest starts to winter on record across Scotland.

For the country as a whole, a record 351mm (14 inches) of rain fell during December, whilst average air temperatures were more akin to those during October or November.

Follow Eddie on Twitter @eddy_weather https://twitter.com/eddy_weather