The Met Office has forecast "thundersnow" for parts of Scotland, with disruption to travel and adverse conditions expected.

A yellow weather warning previously issued for snow and high winds in the north of Scotland has been extended to cover the central belt in the coming days.

From Friday forecasters predict that a large propostion of the population could see icy roads, lightning strikes leading to power outages, and travel disruption.

Here's what you need to know about Thundersnow and the yellow weather warning...

What is thundersnow? 

"Thundersnow" is caused by an expected warm gust of air from the south west colliding with cold winds from the north.

When thundersnow occurs at night the lightning appears brighter - this is because the light reflects off the snowflakes.

Where are yellow weather warnings in place in Scotland? 

The affected areas in full are:

Central, Tayside & Fife

  • Falkirk
  • Stirling

Highlands & Eilean Siar

  • Na h-Eileanan Siar
  • Highland

SW Scotland, Lothian Borders

  • Dumfries and Galloway
  • Edinburgh
  • Midlothian Council
  • Scottish Borders
  • West Lothian

Strathclyde

  • Argyll and Bute
  • East Ayrshire
  • East Dunbartonshire
  • East Renfrewshire
  • Glasgow
  • Inverclyde
  • North Ayrshire
  • North Lanarkshire
  • Renfrewshire
  • South Ayrshire
  • South Lanarkshire
  • West Dunbartonshire

When are the yellow weather warnings in place in Scotland? 

A warning is in place for snow from 10am until 4pm on Thursday, and again from midnight until 10am on Friday.

A Met Office spokesperson said: "Power outages are possible with a risk of isolated lightning strikes.

"Frequent wintry showers arriving from the west overnight Thursday into Friday are likely to lead to a fresh covering of snow for areas above 200m (mainly around 2-5 cm, possibly as much as 10 cm over highest ground where showers are most frequent).

"Falling snow below this level may cause some temporary slushy accumulations which then may freeze and cause dangerous, icy patches where skies remain clear for long enough."