The Met Office has issued yellow snow and ice warnings across Scotland as snow gates remain closed in Aberdeenshire.

It has advised there may be snow of up to 10cm on higher ground and said drivers should be aware of "difficult" travelling conditions and "possible disruption to transport and power supplies".

Shetland is expected to experience the worst of the cold weather with outbreaks of sleet and snow expected to affect many parts of the area.

The B974 is closed between Banchory and Fettercairn in Aberdeenshire due to heavy snow in the area.

Snow started falling on Wednesday evening in central Scotland and the east of the country, while Scottish Borders Council has opened its emergency planning centre in preparation.

About 3cm to 6cm of snow is expected on lower ground throughout most of the country.

The yellow "be aware" warnings for the whole of Scotland are valid until 9am on Thursday.

Police Scotland said officers received a number of reports of incidents on roads across the north-east of the country on Wednesday and advised motorists to take care.

Inspector Jon Barron said: "Emergency services have responded to a number of collisions.

"While inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing, I would like to urge motorists to be aware of road conditions in cold weather.

"Please plan ahead, check the weather forecast and, if you must travel, allow more time for your journey."

The plummeting temperatures have also prompted public health bosses to warn the elderly to keep their homes warm and have the flu jab as forecasters predict the cold front is set to remain into the weekend.

STV weather presenter Sean Batty said: "Throughout the rest of today the north and north west of the country will continue to see sleet and snow showers.

"Around the islands and coastal areas will see a mixture of rain and sleet, and possibly some snow as well.

"Then around the north west of the mainland we’ll see further snowfall with the possibility of another 5-10cm falling in some parts of the Highlands.

"Overnight this mainly affects the north west of the country. Going into Friday morning, there will be sleet and snow moving southwards across the country but most will fall in the north west.

"Friday will be a dry and bright day for most of country once that clears but do expect another icy start on Friday morning.

"The cold weather is set to last into the weekend with some very low temperatures, with the possibility that we could see temperatures dropping below -15C in parts of Highlands, which will be the coldest weather we’ve seen for a few years."

The cold snap is in sharp contrast to last month, which was both the wettest and warmest December on record, as temperatures averaged 7.9C.

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