'Thundersnow' brings loud bangs and travel disruption around Edinburgh
Residents were woken up by crashes of thunder
Last updated 4th Dec 2020
Residents have been woken by loud crashes of 'thundersnow', which has also brought travel disruption around Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife.
The Queensferry Crossing was closed for around four hours because of falling ice and snow, the second time the weather has put it out of action this year.
The wintry showers also caused delays and cancellations to some Scotrail services, including the Borders Railway.
People were alerted to the unusual weather during the night, when thundery noises could be heard across Edinburgh.
Police Scotland Control Rooms tweeted at around 5am on Friday: "We have received a number of calls regarding people concerned about explosions heard.
"Please do not be alarmed, we are currently experiencing thunder and lightning."
The Met Office describes the phenomenon of 'thunderstorm' as what happens when thunderstorms form in wintry conditions.
It can lead to heavy downpours of snow, along with the usual thunder and lightning.
This caused delays on the roads by the time the morning rush hour arrived, with the closure of the Queensferry Crossing causing significant delays for motorists.
It's prompted renewed calls for action in case the route is forced to shut again over the winter.
Chris Tracey, Bear Scotland's south east unit bridges manager, said: "The safety of bridge users comes first and we therefore made the decision to temporarily close the Queensferry Crossing when we identified a risk of falling ice.
"We constantly monitor conditions on the Queensferry Crossing in real time using a bespoke system of weather sensors on the towers and deck.
"At 4.30am, this system reported conditions conducive for ice formation. Patrol staff observed ice falling from the bridge towers shortly after this and the bridge was closed at 4.45am.
"The risk of falling ice has now passed and it is safe to reopen the bridge. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to road users by this closure."
There were also morning accidents on the M8, M90 and A70 amid treacherous conditions for drivers.
There is more bad weather expected to follow, with a Met Office yellow warning for rain in place until 6am on Saturday morning.
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