The west coast of Scotland is likely to bear the brunt of this week's cold snap with snowfall expected on higher ground.

Areas such as the Clyde Muirshiel Park, Glennifer Braes, Mugdock Park and Kilpatrick hills could accumulate several centimetres of snow by Tuesday night, while some roads may also be affected.

The east and north of the country is more likely to be hit by rain, although snow could occur on higher ground in the north east.

STV weather presenter Sean Batty said: "A band of heavy rain affecting the Hebrides on Tuesday morning will move east this afternoon and as this engages with the colder air over the mainland it will turn readily to snow above 200 metres.

"The wintry conditions will set in properly during Tuesday evening, with poor conditions over some of the higher roads, such as the A82, A85, A87, and possibly the higher parts of the M77 south of Newton Mearns later.

"At lower levels in the central belt, around Renfrewshire, Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde and North Ayrshire there will be rain initially, although this will turn to sleet and wet snow in places.

"In these areas there could be slight accumulations, although in some areas north and west of Glasgow there is the risk of up to 5cm."

Sean said up to 20 centimetres could settle on the tops of the Munros of Argyll, Stirlingshire and the west Highlands.

He added: "Anything that reaches the east should be quite showery and mainly of sleet and rain at low levels.

"Heavy rain showers will affect Aberdeenshire and Moray overnight, although snow can be expected on higher ground.

"On Wednesday western areas become drier and brighter, but heavy rain showers will affect the Hebrides and Ayrshire. Rain will linger in the north east, some of which will be heavy.

"The cold air remains over much of Scotland in the coming day, although milder conditions will spread in from the west on Friday along with heavy rain."