Edinburgh residents were woken by the shattering claps of thundersnow in the early hours of Saturday - for the second night in a row.
Across the city, thundersnow could be heard from after 1am as a series of loud cracks.
Spooked locals contacted the police after confusing the weather phenomenon with explosions and others took to social media.
— Police Scotland Control Rooms (@polscotcontrol) December 4, 2020
— LB (@y_luc) December 5, 2020
Residents took videos of the lightning crashing across the sky in the second night where the city was subject to the chaotic weather event.
— Martin Paterson (@PhotoGoku) December 5, 2020
The event was followed by heavy rain and hail, causing the already high water levels to rise across the city.
— Dawn Smith (@dsmith_edi) December 5, 2020
According to the Met Office, described the event as thunder during cold weather. If it is cold enough, instead of rain, the thunderstorm produces snow.
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 4, 2020
Saturday night witnessed the lowest temperatures of autumn/winter of 2020, with -9.6C (14.72F) recorded at Altnaharra, Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands, the Met Office said.
Other parts of the UK were met with snowfall on Saturday morning - and forecasters warn that further cold weather is on its way.
— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) December 4, 2020
Edinburgh City Council said roads and flood prevention teams will be working throughout the weekend because of the heavy rain.
