Conditions could cause travel disruption

Forecasters have warned that further significant falls of snow are on the way, with road closures possible.

The Met Office has already predicted a 50% risk of travel disruption north of the border over the next few days.

Meanwhile, bookmakers have tipped Scotland as the most likely place in the UK to see a white Christmas.

A low pressure system is expected to move south-east across Scotland on Saturday night followed by strong northerly winds on Sunday and Monday.

Significant snowfall is expected over high ground on Saturday, especially in the Highlands and over the Grampians.

The avalanche spat them out and they ended up sitting on top of the snow Terry Confield Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team

On Ben Nevis, the party of four climbers were swept down a gully when they were caught in an avalanche.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team was called out at about 1220 GMT and the party were airlifted by RAF helicopter to Belford Hospital in Fort William.

Team leader Terry Confield said: "They were very lucky. The avalanche spat them out and they ended up sitting on top of the snow."

None of the party was seriously injured.

Snowploughs have been struggling to keep the A9 Inverness to Perth road open as blizzards made driving conditions difficult in Drumochter Pass.

'Wet Christmas'

Some sleet or wet snow is also possible at low levels in the central Lowlands and heavy rain, sleet and snow showers are expected overnight.

It has also been warned that snow across the higher routes will affect travel conditions, leading to reduced visibility, surface water and spray.

But bookmakers said that most punters were still betting on the chance of a wet rather than a white Christmas.

A spokesman for William Hill said: "Aberdeen is the favourite to see a white Christmas, followed by Glasgow.

"But there's been quite a run on a wet Christmas in both of those areas. In fact, wet started out as 8-11 and it is now 1-25 (for both cities)."