Scotland faces snow and heavy rain as Storm Austen approaches

Summarised from 2 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 21 Oct, 12:08 · Archive

Snow is expected in parts of Scotland this weekend as Storm Austen brings heavy rain and strong winds to the UK.

Snow is forecast for parts of Scotland this weekend as Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, moves across the UK. The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for heavy rain across southern, central and north-east Scotland from 6am Friday to 3am Saturday, affecting 26 areas including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth. Rainfall of 20–40mm is expected widely within the warning area, with 60–80mm possible in some locations.

Higher ground in Scotland could see snow, with forecast data suggesting snowfall rates could reach around 4cm per hour in areas where the flurries are most intense. The ECMWF weather model indicates that 16 Scottish counties could see some snow over the weekend. The first batch of snow is expected to fall around midday on Friday near Grantown-on-Spey in the highlands, with a larger band hitting from Ullapool and Fort William down to Stirlingshire and across the central Highlands on Saturday afternoon.

Storm Austen will bring gusts of 70mph to Wales and southern England, where an amber weather warning has been issued. Although the storm itself is forecast not to reach Scotland, the Met Office has warned that heavy rain could cause disruption to rail, road, ferry and air transport services, with some communities at risk of being cut off by flooded roads. Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said forecasters were 'particularly focusing on the development of a potentially deep area of low pressure that could cross the UK overnight on Thursday and through Friday'.

How it is being reported

• Yellow weather warning for heavy rain issued for large parts of ScotlandA WEATHER warning for heavy rain has been issued for large parts of Scotland as the UK sets to brace for Storm Austen ...The National · 21 Oct, 11:21
• Storm Austen to bring flooding and travel chaos to Scotland as MET Office issues yellow warningThe first storm of the year has been confirmed and Scots will feel the impactDaily Record · 21 Oct, 10:37
• Scotland braced for snow as major storm brings 70mph winds and torrential rainBBC Weather forecasters have warned that the first named storm of the season could arrive in the coming days, while the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for strong winds.Daily Record · 20 Oct, 18:03
• Parts of Scotland to be blasted by snow this weekend as first storm hits the UKA wild weekend is on the horizon.Daily Record · 20 Oct, 10:24
• First named storm of autumn could hit UK this week as Scotland warned of snowAtlantic weather systems are expected to sweep across the country towards the end of the week, bringing unsettled conditions, longer spells of rain and increasingly windy weatherDaily Record · 19 Oct, 20:30

In this story: Scotland · UK · Met Office · Wales · England · Tom Crabtree · Highlands · BBC Weather

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