Anstruther harbour took a lashing yesterday, and the wild weather is set to continue, with amber warnings issued for Courier Country. Picture by Wullie Marr.

An amber snow warning has been issued for parts of Tayside and Fife, after the Met Office upgraded existing alerts.

The latest update from the Met Office, which covers parts of Angus, Fife and Perthshire, is in place from midnight tomorrow until 6pm on Saturday.

The forecaster warns residents of the affected areas that they are likely to experience persistent, heavy snow that could cause “significant disruption” to utilities and transport.

Roads may be blocked by deep snow, leaving passengers and vehicles stranded, and some communities could be cut off.

The weather could also lead to “long interruptions to power supplies and other services”, the warning states, including phone coverage, water and gas.

The latest cold spell – which will span six days and five nights in total and last into the weekend – is expected to bring further travel disruption, and could leave some rural routes and communities cut off.

Though Fife is expected to miss the worst of the wintry showers, Angus and Perthshire are expected to be badly affected.

Forecasters say a band of rain will turn to snow as it pushes north-eastwards.

According to the warning, up to 8in of snow is possible on the highest routes, where “drifting and temporary blizzard conditions may occur”. Smaller accumulations are likely at lower levels.

A snow warning for Perthshire and Angus from this morning until Saturday said: “Above 150m (492ft) some 10-20cm of snow is likely, with locally 30cm (11.8in) above 250m (820ft).

“For lower levels, away from eastern coasts, where rain is more likely, 2-5cm (0.8-2in) of snow is possible.

“As colder air sinks south later on Friday, snow will likely fall at all levels, though by then it is unlikely to be as heavy.

“As well as heavy snow, strong winds will be an additional hazard, with blizzard conditions likely at times.”

“As well as heavy snow, strong winds will be an additional hazard

COLD SNAP: An amber weather warning has been issued for parts of Tayside and Fife.