Cold snap continues across UK ahead of Storm Bert

More freezing temperatures are expected across the UK before Storm Bert hits this weekend, bringing high winds and potential flooding.

In Scotland, temperatures dropped to -6C (21.2F) on Friday morning with weather warnings for snow and ice still in place for much of the UK.

Bert's arrival on Saturday is set to bring much milder temperatures but disruption is expected with gusts of 40-60mph (65-96km/h) forecast in Scotland, Northern Ireland, north Wales and northern England.

An amber warning for snow and ice has been issued for central Scotland and numerous yellow warnings for rain and wind are in place for Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday morning, temperatures across the UK will hover between -2 and 2C and throughout the day are not expected to reach any higher than 6C.

For most, it will be less cold and frosty than recent mornings - although there is a risk of ice, with parts of England and Wales set for rain, sleet and a little snow.

More significant snow will once again come into northern and western Scotland on Friday.

Friday night is expected to be the coldest of the autumn so far, with temperatures across north-east Scotland plummeting to around -12C.

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Elsewhere, temperatures will rise after an early frost as Storm Bert approaches from the Atlantic.

By Saturday, Wales, central and southern England, could see temperatures up to 12-15C.

But heavy rain is also expected at times over the weekend which the Environment Agency says could lead to some localised flooding.

Across south-west England and Wales, a Met Office yellow warning for rain says that throughout Saturday 50-75mm (2-3in) of rain could fall widely.

In some parts, such as south Wales and Dartmoor, there could be as much as 125mm (5in) which would be the whole of November's average rainfall in just a day.

Storm Bert will bring strengthening winds, heavy rain and for a time, significant snow and blizzards to northern England and Scotland.

• Police warn against road travel in Scotland during Storm Bert

Strong winds have the potential to cause damage and disruption to the transport network and buildings, and power cuts are also possible.

Those winds will continue at times well into Sunday and Monday as Storm Bert makes slow progress eastward across the UK.

Network Rail is already advising passengers to check journeys before they travel this weekend.

An amber alert for heavy snow and ice will also be in force between 07:00 GMT and 17:00 on Saturday in an area north of Scotland's central belt, where as much as 20-40cm of snow is likely on higher ground.

Police are urging people not to travel on Scotland's roads on Saturday as the country braces itself for more heavy snowfall.

Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said there are likely to be "heavy" outbreaks of rain throughout Saturday, "falling as snow" at times across northern parts of England and parts of Scotland.

An amber cold health alert is in place for much of England until 18:00 on Saturday.

It means there is an increased health risk to vulnerable people, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people to check on those who may be at risk.

Some people may be eligible for cold weather payments - a government benefit top-up to help with fuel bills during times of exceptionally cold weather.

The cold weather has already been causing disruption.

More than 100 schools across the Scottish Highlands and 30 in north Wales were closed on Thursday, while almost 200 schools in Devon and Cornwall shut or were partially closed due to the snow.

Earlier in the week, Scotland recorded its coldest early winter temperature since 1998 when Braemar in Aberdeenshire reached a low of -11.2C.