That was summer: Here comes the snow

Winter back with a vengeance after warmest-ever March

SNOW is forecast to spread across much of Scotland today, days after a record-breaking spring heatwave. The Met Office issued a weather warning of cold air spreading south, turning rain into sleet and snow as the day progresses. Accumulations of up to 10cm are expected in some places, especially on hills. People living in Perthshire, Grampian, the Highlands, and the Lothian and Borders area are most likely to wake up to a covering of snow tomorrow, forecasters said.

JUST when we thought it was safe to pack away the winter coat and be done with the woolly jumpers, it seems Mother Nature has other plans.

The Met Office yesterday issued yellow “be aware” weather warnings for snow for much of the country, days after a recordbreaking heatwave.

It is likely most of Scotland will be affected as Arctic air pushes its way south.

Today’s rain will turn increasingly to snow from the north through the day and into the night, giving accumulations of up to 10cm in some places, especially on hills.

A mixture of rain, sleet or snow at lower levels could give a 5cm build-up of slush.

Fraser Ralston, a spokesman for the Met Office based in Aberdeen, said much of the country would not be affected until later today or tonight.

He said: “By dawn of Tuesday, many folk will wake up to a covering of snow and that could well be quite notable inland, particularly over parts of Perthshire, Grampian, Highlands and perhaps into Lothian and the Borders as well.”

It marks a stark change from last week’s highs, which were an “all-time record,” said Mr Ralston. “Most stations in Scotland reported their highest-ever March temperature.”

Aboyne in Aberdeenshire reported a reading of 23.6˚C on Tuesday.

In Largs, sales of ice-cream at Nardini’s cafe and ice-cream parlour were up by 100%. “Last week was like summer had come early,” said Craven Cooper, the cafe’s manager. “Business has been absolutely phenomenal.”

Responding to reports of this week’s colder temperatures, with snow on its way, he said: “It’s not good news – we could’ve done with the finer weather keeping going.”

In the Cairngorms, a fresh dusting of snow over some parts has already landed. Just a week ago Aviemore recorded a temperature of 22.3˚C, after a mild winter that saw the Cairngorm ski centre switch to “summer mode” earlier than usual.

Alan Rankin, chief executive of Visit Cairngorms, said there was still doubt as to whether the fresh snowfall would be enough to allow the mountain to open for snow sports. “Let’s hope and keep our fingers crossed we’ll be surprised,” he said.

“There’s no getting away from it, it’s been a very poor skiing season and that has hit the skihire providers and, of course, Cairngorm Mountain.

Mr Ralston said there were doubts over whether snow would lie in the central belt.

He added: “I think it will struggle to lie to any depth on many roads and pavements, but certainly over the fields and gardens it will build up.

“But there will be some slushy snow on the roads, even in urban areas, probably more so on the eastern side of the country than the west, and particularly in the north-east.”

He warned that by this evening the weather in low-lying parts of the north-east around Aberdeen and as far as Inverness could start to cause some disruption on the roads. Drivers are advised to take care and be aware of snow turning to ice.

While the snow could thaw quite rapidly on Tuesday over towns and lower-lying areas thanks to strong sunshine, Mr Ralston warned it could hold on higher routes like the A9 and M74 at Beattock.

Mr Ralston added: “Once the snow gets out of the way, the rest of Tuesday and Wednesday will be quite pleasant with the amount of sunshine, but there’s going to be a nip in the air.

“By Wednesday, the outlook is less cold, cloudy and a bit rainy by the end of the week.”