Wrap up.. Scotland’s to be colder than Mount Everest
Tomorrow is expected to be the coldest day of the winter so far, with the mercury dropping to –12C, and things won’t heat up until at least Wednesday. It follows a “snow bomb” covering parts of the country in just a few hours yesterday. And while reindeer in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, seemed to be enjoying it, motorists and pedestrians were struggling. Now, with Arctic air bringing ice and extra snow flurries tomorrow morning, RAC say they expect it will be their busiest day since last winter. Rail firms are running ghost trains at night to try to clear snow and ice from tracks, while Glasgow and Edinburgh airports have dozens of snow ploughs on standby. Temperatures are set to be significantly lower than the – 8C night- time estimates for Mount Everest in Nepal. And forecastersforecaster say even when things ddo begin to thaw, they th expect highs of just 5C. The Weather Outlook Ou forecaster BrianBr Gaze said: “TeTemperatures of –112C would not be a surprise on Mo Monday morning in ScottishS glens.” M Mark Wi lson, a fore forecaster with the Met Off ice, added: “We aare looking at an exce exceptionally cold spell of weather, even for ththis time of year. “WWe have been caugh caught up in air from the ArcArctic, being swept down on a northerly wind. ThThis is expected to chanchange by mid-week, when mmilder air from the Atlantic arrives. By Wednesday, we could be hitting the dizzy heights of 5C or 6C.
“It is nothing exceptional but at least it is warmer than what we have seen of late.
“It is winter but this has been quite chilling. My advice is to wrap up warm.”
There are 500 gritters across Scotland tackling the freeze.
The Met Office have yellow “be aware” warnings in place until midday today for snow and ice.
The chilly temperatures stopped five SPFL games at Inverness, Dumbarton, Albion Rovers, Peterhead and Stirling from going ahead yesterday.
Another “snow bomb” will see southern parts of the country get 4in of snow in just a few hours today.
But transport bosses are determined the cold snap won’t stop commuters getting around.
Network Rail are using a thermal- imaging helicopter and 34 de-icing trains to keep tracks clear.
A spokesman said: “We have teams on the ground to inspect infrastructure and respond.”
The Army have confirmed they will be on standby to provide assistance.
Despite the chi l l, most of Scotland won’t experience the snowfall other parts of the UK will see over the coming days.
The Met Office’s Charlie Powell said: “Loads of snow could fall anywhere in the Midlands and north today and tomorrow, with up to 20cm widely in the amber warning zone. Most snow will fall in three or four hours, leaving an awful lot of lying snow.”
Bookmakers William Hill have cut the odds of a white Christmas in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen to 7/4.