Scotland is set to be battered by heavy overnight winds tonight - with gusts of up to 75mph expected.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind in Caithness and Orkney from 10pm this evening until 2am the following morning.
Forecasters anticipate west and southwesterly winds to reach up to 65mph in most places in this area, with the potential for gusts to exceed those limits on exposed coasts.
Scots in the affected areas have been warned of disruption on the roads and to public transport services.
Coastal communities are also expected to be affected by large waves during the adverse conditions.
A notice on the Met Office website reads: “A brief spell of very strong winds will affect Caithness, Orkney and Fair Isle late on Wednesday evening.
“West or southwesterly winds will gust to 65mph at times, and perhaps around 75mph along exposed coasts.
“The strongest of the winds will quickly move away eastwards during the early hours of Thursday.”
The new weather warning comes following reports of an ‘Arctic blast’ which is set to hit large parts of the UK over the coming days.
Experts have predicted snow to land in the Highlands and the north east of the country as early as January 30.
Up to five and half inches of the white stuff is expected to have landed in these areas by the following day.
Another blanket of snow is forecast to hit more widespread on February 9, with areas of the central belt and near to the border forecast to see some snow.
Temperatures are also expected to plummet to lows of around -2C in northern parts of Scotland on that date.
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