Winters recalled

heavy snow and freezing temperatures.

It was a white-out that endured for weeks when Arctic conditions returned in early January, transforming Tayside and Fife into a winter wonderland.

Across Scotland schools were closed, traffic came to a standstill and power outages were a regular occurrence.

Cold temperatures and snowfall persisted until February. Dundee experienced its coldest day in more than 50 years after a low of -9.4C was recorded on January 8.

The Arctic conditions led to chaos across the region, enduring through December into early January. December 2010 was the coldest in the UK since records began.

Schools were closed, roads were blocked by trapped cars and jackknifed lorries with electricity also cut off to homes.

By November 30 residents across Tayside and Fife were being told to “stay home, stay safe and stay warm” as 3,600 properties were left without power.

NHS Tayside quickly moved to an emergency service, cancelling all non-urgent surgeries and outpatient clinics, forcing the health board to reschedule 8,000 appointments.

Many were left unable to travel to work due to snow and ice, with local authorities including Perth and Kinross Council even calling off bin collections as staff focused on clearing and gritting efforts.

JUST when dreams of spring were entering our thoughts, Mother Nature dealt us a chilling reminder of her power.

In late February 2018, freezing Arctic conditions swept across the UK from Eastern Europe and Russia. Tayside and Fife bore the brunt of the brutal weather, which endured until early March and earned the nickname The Beast from the East.

Arctic blizzards and several feet of snow hit the local area during the extreme weather event, which is said to have been caused by sudden stratospheric warming. The Beast from the East combined with Storm Emma to cause widespread chaos

Sub-zero temperatures brought major travel disruption to Scotland, closed hundreds of schools and left some communities completely cut off.