Woollies on... winter’s back!

Weekend cold snap as Arctic blast sends temperatures plunging to -2C

JUST when it felt like time to bring out the summer wardrobe, temperatures were last night forecast to plummet across swathes of Scotland.

And the cold snap is likely to last throughout the weekend, with widespread frosts developing.

While many areas enjoyed some warm sunshine this week, wintry weather hit much of the North and North-East.

Sub-zero temperatures were expected to spread over other parts of Scotland overnight as Arctic winds continued to drag cold air southwards.

Some late April snow showers began on Wednesday, while Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands recorded the lowest temperature in the country overnight on Thursday, as thermometers dropped to -5.7C.

Forecasters have warned the wintry conditions will continue for a day or two.

Glasgow was expected to be the warmest place in Scotland today with the mercury hitting a daytime high of 11C, slightly above the monthly average.

But while there will be sunny spells, temperatures were likely to drop overnight to -2C in many parts, with exposed rural areas potentially even colder.

A Met Office spokesman said: ‘There will be scattered showers, remaining wintry over the highest ground.

‘However, temperatures will be slightly warmer than Friday, with daytime temperatures just extending into double figures for many. Glasgow is likely to be the warmest location with 11C.

‘Overnight temperatures will cool in the clear skies, with values down to as low as -2C, possibly lower in more exposed rural areas.’

The unseasonal conditions are a result of cold winds coming down from the Arctic and North Sea, which began to hit Scotland last weekend.

This has meant temperatures in some areas have been around three to six degrees below the average for this time of year.

Heading into tomorrow, the Met Office said it ‘will be largely dry with heavier rainfall sweeping in along the East Coast and penetrating inland’.

As temperatures gradually begin to rise at the start of next week, forecasters said the risk of wintry showers would be ‘largely gone’ and frosts would be ‘less extensive’.

There will be some heavier ‘pulses’ of rain moving in from the south alongside moderate winds as the week goes on, but the Met Office said overnight temperatures would mostly be above freezing as conditions begin to warm up.

‘Wintry over the highest ground’