Winter weather warning after temperatures drop

Wintry showers could hit region and drivers told to watch for ‘nasty mix’

People have been warned to prepare for snow and ice as freezing winter weather sweeps into Tayside.

An Arctic maritime air mass moved over Scotland yesterday and was expected to cause temperatures to plummet to -3C in Courier country this morning – with wintry showers due across the region.

The freezing conditions prompted the Met Office to issue a yellow warning for snow and ice in Tayside, Fife and Grampian from until today at 11am.

Some parts of Scotland, such as Aviemore, were predicted to experience lows of -5C overnight. And the mercury is not expected to rise above 7C today, with the cold conditions due to endure into next week.

The heaviest wintry showers were predicted to hit the highest regions, with Perthshire and Angus the most likely to see snow lying on hilltops and roads.

However, Met Office meteorologist Sarah Kent said Dundee would not be immune to the odd dusting of the white stuff today – adding there will be a “significant wind chill”.

She added: “The weather has turned colder with northerly winds coming down. At this time of year sea temperatures are quite warm and this can brew up some quite beefy showers and the showers have been heavier in places.

“Over higher ground in the Cairngorms and Grampians we have seen some snow. There’s going to be a dusting on the hilltops by Saturday morning. There will be showers into Saturday morning and a bit of sleet.

“It will be quite a nasty mix on some roads. There will be a touch of frost combined with the showers and some snow over the highest ground. That is why we have issued this snow and ice warning.

“Over higher ground, above 200m-300m (656ft-984ft), some of the roads will become quite sleety.”

Mrs Kent added: “Through Saturday morning we’ll see the showers continuing, though they will become more isolated. Some places could get away dry and sunny.

“Day maxes are probably going to be around 7C, though there is significant wind chill, even to low levels.

“The likes of Dundee is not immune to risk but the worst conditions are on the higher grounds of the Cairngorms and the hills near Inverness.

“Certainly Sunday is going to be a chilly day. Monday there is a bit more of a breeze coming in, bringing more showers.”