By Sohaib Shams
The UK is expected to see its first snowfall of the winter this week as temperatures drop following two severe storms.
Snow Forecast for Scotland
The Met Office predicts light snow on high ground in the Central Highlands, near Loch Rannoch and Pitlochry, between 2am and 3.30am on Wednesday. A weather map shows scattered snowfall patches amid rain bands.
Weather Warnings in Force
A yellow weather warning covers almost all of Scotland until Tuesday evening, with gale-force winds buffeting the north.
Polar Vortex Disruption
Forecasters warn that the ongoing El Niño event, now the strongest on record, could weaken the stratospheric polar vortex as early as November, potentially sending Arctic air southward into Europe and North America.
Storm Aftermath
Storms Austen and Boelo have already caused disruption. A man was killed by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway on Sunday. Thousands of homes lost power, and several schools closed on Monday due to downed power lines.
Historical Context
Last year, the first snow fell on October 25 at Cairngorm Mountain Resort. In November, an amber warning brought heavy snow and ice, closing over 100 schools and dropping temperatures to -12.6°C in Tomintoul.
Upcoming Storm Names
The next storm this season will be named Storm Chloe, followed by Dano, Evelyn, Finn, Gwendolyn and Heather.
