By Lucy Ashton
Snow, rain and strong winds are expected to hit West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Bute and Glasgow over the next two days with the arrival of Storm Kathleen.
It is the 11th storm to be named in the 2023-24 season, making it the joint stormiest period since storm naming began in 2015.
The Met Office has issued three weather warnings for various times across Friday and Saturday.
Members of the public have been urged to prepare for flooding, travel disruption and possible power cuts.
Spring snowfall
The snow warning runs from 03:00 until 09:00 on Friday covering parts of the central belt and parts of the West Highlands, with up to 10cm of snowfall forecast over higher ground.
Forecasters said snow was likely to cause travel disruption on Friday morning, particularly on higher routes.
The conditions could lead to longer journey times for road and rail journeys.
A yellow warning for rain is in place for roughly the same time period, stretching across the central belt,.
The Met Office said it was likely to be “15-25mm of rain, much of this falling in around six hours with a few locations seeing up to 35mm overnight”.
It warned there was a chance of flooding to a few homes and businesses.
Spray and flooding on roads could bring travel disruption for commuters.
On Saturday, Storm Kathleen will arrive. She will bring with her a yellow warning for wind from 08:00 until 22:00. It goes across the central belt, south west Scotland and most of the Borders.
A deep area of low pressure will bring very windy weather, which the Met Office said could cause longer – or potentially cancelled journeys – as road, rail, air and ferry services will be affected.
Forecasters said there is a small chance roads and bridges could be closed or restricted.
In coastal areas such as Helensburgh and Firth of Clyde towns, large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, roads and properties could also present a danger to life, the Met Office warned.
A farmer feeding his flock in snowy Glen Fruin above Loch Lomond.
The forecaster also issued a warning that there could be power cuts, which could have an impact on other services such as mobile phone coverage.
This will be the second time a UK named storm has reached the letter K in the alphabet, following Storm Katie in March 2016.
No storm season has ever gone beyond the letter K.
Spring or April storms are uncommon. Since 2015 there has only been one UK named storm in April – Storm Hannah in 2019.