It’s cool just monkeying about
SCOTS shivered through the first Arctic blast of winter at the weekend – but conditions were perfect for this five-month-old snow monkey.
Native to the Japanese mountains, the ice baby seemed right at home at the chilly Highland Wildlife Park, near Kingussie, Inverness-shire.
Much of Scotland was blanketed in snow at the weekend, with several road closures.
Cairngorm recorded a chilly -5.2c on Saturday, while Kinbrace, Sutherland, saw -3.3c. Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, stayed below freezing for more than 24 hours, making it the UK’s coldest village.
Last night, forecasters warned of yet more wintry conditions in the week ahead. But bizarrely, fresh snow will only add to dozens of patches left over from last winter.
Snow researcher Iain Cameron, who is based in Stirling, said: ‘This year will certainly be remembered
‘We will see stormy conditions and gales’
as a vintage year. It’s a cracker. In total 73 patches of snow from winter 2014/15 lasted to winter 2015/16, the most since 1994. It’s been a rotten summer, it just didn’t melt.’
Looking to the week ahead, MeteoGroup forecaster Paul Knightley said: ‘Around -5c is forecast locally (this morning) in the North. Freezing drizzle, which can be dangerous, could affect the Highlands. Westerly winds and cooler interludes follow. Showers could be wintry on northern hills at times. Later in the week we’ll see stormier conditions again, with gales certainly a risk for the North and West.’
A Met Office forecaster said: ‘Wednesday will see a very windy spell with blustery showers, falling as snow over northern hills.
‘It will perhaps turn colder again. Rain and wind spread late Thursday and into Friday, with periods of rain and strong winds interspersed with colder spells and showers likely to give snow on high ground, especially in the North.’