Coldest January for nine years in prospect

Scotland faces the coldest Januar y for nine years, with the possibility of weeks of snow in the country’s biggest winter test since 2018’s Beast from the East.

Cold air from northern Russia sees the east due snow flurries early this week, with disruptive snow threatening more widely at the weekend.

The Me t Office warned of belowaverage temperatures during January, with snow risks throughout the month.

The Weather Company forecasters said -1 2 C lows are expected this month.

The weeks ahead will be Scotland’s biggest test since 2018’s Beast from the East.

Some 500 gritting lorries in Scotland dug into winter’s record three million-tonne salt stockpile.

Network Rail prepared dozens of empty “ghost trains” to run at night to keep lines clear of snow.

A “Beast from the East” threatens later in the month as cold air plunges south from the Arctic after a sudden stratospheric warming event.

A Met Office forecaster said: “Monday to Wednesday has brisk northeasterly winds and some wintry showers, with a mix of rain, sleet and snow for the rest of the week for many areas.

“In the middle of January wintry hazards are possible for many areas, but it may become a little less cold for a time in the south.

“January 17- 31 will generally be colder than average, with a risk of snowfall and other wintry hazards throughout.”

Leon Brown, head of meteoro logica l operations at the Weather Company ’s Weather Channel arm, said: “There’s a good chance of -1 2 C in January in Scotland and -8C in England.”