Warmer than Rome and Athens ... thanks to Azores air

SCOTS will have a brief reprieve from the storms and frost as temperatures rise way above average this week.

The Highlands and Moray Firth areas will go from being the UK’s coldest spots this morning to the warmest.

Balmy air drifting from the Azores in the Atlantic is part of a weather front that will bring far milder conditions.

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: ‘The expected temperature this week is way above average. The average temperature in the north of Scotland at this time of year is around 7C or 8C (44-46F). But by Tuesday or Wednesday, the mercury could have risen to 13C (55F), 14C (57F) or even 15C (59F).’

The warmer weather this week is likely to see Scotland’s temperature rise above traditional hot spots such as Rome (13C, 55F) and Athens (8C, 46F).

The end of January saw a cold spell that brought widespread

‘Temperature way above average’

Arctic conditions. The coldest January night for seven years was recorded on January 31, with -14.3C in Braemar.

Storm Erik brought further travel disruption on Friday and Saturday and this morning sees a yellow Met Office warning for ice in Grampian, Highlands and Islands, Orkney and Shetland.

It is feared that overnight rain and hill snow will freeze under clearing skies this morning, leading to sub-zero road and pavement surfaces.

However, it is all change within 24 hours, thanks to warm air from the Azores.

Mr Snell said: ‘It’s possible that the north of Scotland will become the warmest part of the UK this week.

‘The expected 13C (55F) in Glasgow is not to be sniffed at, particularly in February.’