A band of torrential rain is threatening to dampen spirits in the Highlands on Hogmanay.
The Met Office has issued a yellow “be aware” weather warning because of the forecast conditions – which is expected to bring around two inches of rainfall widely tomorrow.
Higher areas are being warned to expect three inches of rainfall in just a few hours.
The worst of the weather is expected to have passed by the bells with the warning in place until 6pm.
But a blast of colder and clearer weather is expected to follow behind it mixed in with wintry showers.
The weather warning is focused on a narrow band running diagonally, largely taking in central parts of the Highlands, as well as Inverness and Fort William.
A spokesman for the Met Office said: “Outbreaks of rain will turn heavier across north-west Scotland on Friday night and last well into Saturday.
“Standing water and spray in combination with strong to gale force winds will bring difficult driving conditions, while localised flooding may lead to some low level travel disruption.
“The rain will gradually clear south during the afternoon.”
He warned there is a risk of some localised flooding as a result of the rain, with between one and three inches widely expected to fall across the Highlands.
Higher ground could see up to three inches falling in just a few hours.
The heavy rain follows hot on the heels of storms Barbara and Conner which caused widespread disruption over the Christmas weekend.
With the worst of the weather expected to blow through earlier in the evening, preparations are pressing ahead for the Hogmanay celebrations across the Highlands.
The largest such event in the north is the Red Hot Highland Fling in Inverness which will run from 8.30pm to 12.30am at Northern Meeting Park.
