Warning: Yellow

To expect: Ice

Affected areas: Highlands & Eilean Siar

Start time estimate: Tuesday 3am

End time estimate: Tuesday 9am

The Met Office has announced a Yellow ice warning for Highlands & Eilean Siar until Tuesday morning.

A Yellow weather alert is in effect, continuing until Tuesday 9am. The forecast indicates hazardous conditions due to patchy frost in the affected regions.

The Yellow alert for ice was issued at 3:54am on Tuesday, January 20.

A Met Office forecast said: “Light showers are pushing across the warning area, these falling onto frozen surfaces and leading to the risk of icy patches, particularly where surfaces are untreated or treatment has been washed away.”

What to expect

Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.

Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

What should you do?

Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy:

• Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. Not needing to rush, reduces your risk of accidents, slips, and falls.

• If you need to make 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.

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.

Be prepared for weather warnings to change: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

For further details see Met Office Warnings & Advice.

What is a yellow weather warning?

The Met Office has three categories of weather warning, depending on the likely impact of severe weather and also how likely it is to strike in a particular area.

A yellow warning is issued when weather conditions are expected to disrupt travel and traffic and may impact on daily routines but are not likely to pose a risk to life or property.

An amber warning is more severe and advises people to think about changing their plans to minimise the risk.

A red warning means weather conditions are expected to be dangerous with widespread damage to property and a risk to life, with the public usually advised to avoid travelling.

The Yellow weather alert for ice will remain in place until 9am on Tuesday.