Weather Forecast for Portree

Areas of heavy rain will affect western and northern Scotland on Sunday and Monday. During Sunday, as the rain initially moves in, this will readily fall as snow away from lower elevations near the west coast, but as it turns increasingly milder, snow will turn back to rain widely across the warning area. 40-60 mm of rain could fall quite widely across the warning area, but 80-110 mm of rain is possible over parts of Skye, Lochaber, Argyll and the Trossachs. This coupled with a rapid thaw of lying snow brings the possibility of some flooding. For further details see https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings

Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit. Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary. People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items. Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

Information on update: Adjustments to headline, further details and what to expect, to add more focus on ice. A band of snow will move across the warning area during Sunday. Across northern England snow will mostly be confined to ground above 200 metres elevation, but across Scotland this could fall to low levels during the morning, before becoming increasingly confined to higher ground through the afternoon. Whilst not all areas will see accumulating snow at low levels, 2 to 5 cm is likely in places, perhaps temporarily 10 cm before snow turns back to rain. Above 200 metres elevation 10 to 20 cm is possible, perhaps locally up to 30 cm on hills exposed to the strong southerly winds, and over the highest parts of Scotland. Strong winds will lead to some drifting of the snow. Amounts of snow will depend quite heavily on both elevation and the intensity of precipitation, and as the band pushes east through the afternoon, it will begin to transition to an awkward mix of rain, sleet and snow. Therefore there is likely to be a lot of variation, even over relatively short distances. In addition, there is a risk of freezing rain across the east of the area for a few hours after dawn on Sunday morning, perhaps leading to widespread ice that would affect all surfaces. Ice from freezing rain, also know as black ice or glaze, is difficult to see and difficult to clear. For further details see https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings

Snowy, icy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous. If you need to drive, follow these few simple steps to prepare before journeys: plan your route, checking for delays and road closures; look well ahead for potential hazards and keep you speed down; accelerate, brake, steer and change gear as smoothly as possible to reduce the risk of skidding; leave more time to prepare and check your car e.g., wipers, tyres and screen wash; make sure you have essentials in your car (warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, and an in-car charger). Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal to reduce your risk of accidents, slips, and falls. If making a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery. Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated. People cope better when they have prepared in advance for the risk of power cuts or being cut off from services and amenities due to the snow. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items. Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.