A severe weather warning has been issued as heavy snow is forecast across the north of Scotland.

Several centimetres is expected to fall on higher ground in the Highlands, Grampian, Orkney, Shetland, Western Isles and parts of north Tayside and Fife on Friday.

Motorists have been warned over the potential for icy roads in the early hours of the morning as the cold front moves in and temperatures plunge as low as -5C.

STV weatherman Sean Batty said: "The snow will largely fall on higher ground but it may be seen on lower ground, too.

"This is a very cold air mass for April with a straight northerly air flow coming out of the Arctic. During the weekend parts of the Highlands could see lows of -5C."

The snow is expected to spread south across Scotland on Thursday night into Friday morning.

The Met Office's chief forecaster added: "A cold front will push southwards across northern Scotland overnight introducing colder air and more wintry conditions, chiefly above 300 metres where 1-4cm accumulations are expected.

"Across Shetland the snow levels are likely to be lower with 1-2cm possible to low levels briefly."

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