The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Wrap up warm as Arctic air delivers winter’s first blast
Drivers warned to prepare their cars as north wind blows,
Gritters are expected to be out in force this weekend as a chilly snap from the Arctic sweeps the country.
Snow began to fall in parts yesterday, closing the A939 snow gates between Cockbridge and Tomintoul, and further cold weather is expected over the weekend.
A yellow weather warning has been in place across most of northern Scotland since last night, with forecasters warning that slushy snow and patchy ice could appear throughout this morning.
Met Office meteorologist Matthew Box said: “We’ve got a good northerly wind, which is bringing a flow of Arctic air across Scotland.
“That’s giving us some showers, which could be heavy at times, but these will mainly fall as rain rather than snow.”
It will be time for motorists to dig out their hats and scarves as well as their car scrapers, too.
The mercury is expected to plummet as low as -4C (25F) today, with frozen windscreens expected across the country.
And Mr Box said it could get even colder, adding: “With clear skies overnight we could see a minimum temperature as low as -6C (21F) in some of the more sheltered glens on Sunday morning.”
“Overall, temperatures will struggle to get past the high single digits, with a maximum of around 8C (46F).”
While the weather warnings expire later this morning, showers of snow, sleet and rain will continue to fall – mainly on the east and west coasts.
Heading further into next week, the conditions are expected to dry up but remain chilly.
“It’s going to be cold and there will still be a few showers, but there will be a fair amount of sunshine around,” Mr Box said.
“We’ll have that crisp winter sunshine that a lot of people enjoy.
“It will warm up slightly as well, with a max temperature perhaps creeping into double figures.”