Will it be a white Christmas? Met Office predicts it will be for the Scottish Highlands as warnings issued for snow and ice

The Scottish Highlands can expect to see a white Christmas this year, while flood warnings are in place for several parts of England.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice across the Scottish region, as well as some lowland areas, from 9pm on Christmas Day to 6pm on Boxing Day.

Around 10cm (four inches) of snow is expected to fall on higher ground, with residents warned “blustery snow showers” could cause disruption to travel.

The conditions could also see interruptions to power supplies, with potential for the temperature to drop as low as 1C overnight into Boxing Day.

For the rest of the UK, downpours are expected to lash down across the festive weekend, with 66 alerts for possible flooding issued.

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings, meaning flooding is likely, across Hellingly and Horsebridge in Sussex and North Sea at Roker in Sunderland.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist David Oliver said: “An unsettled Christmas weekend is on the way for many, with those in the north and west seeing the most frequent and the heaviest showers.

“High winds will affect some coasts through the weekend, with gales in places, especially the north and west.

“Christmas Day will be unsettled for many, with the most frequent showers in the northern half of the UK and some more sporadic and mostly lighter showers further south.”

It comes as a bomb cyclone, which causes blizzards, wind chills and temperatures as low as -45.6C (-50.1F), blasts the United States.

At least 17 people have died as a result of the disastrous storm, and around a million people across the country have been left without power.