Scotland's weather: Arctic blast could bring snow

HOPES that the pleasant spring weather of recent days will persist into the end of the month look set to be thwarted by a wintry blast that will see parts of Scotland hit by snowfall and gale force winds.

Parts of Scotland could be hit by snow - despite May being just around the corner. Picture: PA

Forecasters warn that the north and north east will be worst affected by the unseasonably cold conditions, with sleet, snow and hail showers expected today.

Although the snow showers will be sporadic, there is a chance of drifts of 10cm on high-level roads. Even on low ground, there is a chance of slush and icy stretches, leading to possible disruption on the roads.

With the wintry conditions expected to cling on until the middle of the week, the Met Office has issued yellow “be aware” warnings for several areas of the country.

The warnings cover six local authority areas: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, the Highlands, Moray and Perth and Kinross.

Eddie Carroll, the Met Office’s chief forecaster, said northerly gales would bring “unusually cold air for later April” across parts of the UK today.

He explained: “Northern Scotland will bear the brunt of the wintry showers, with some snow accumulations, mainly by night and over higher ground. Accumulations, and the risk of ice on roads, will be very variable due to the showery nature of the precipitation, but may give some localised travel impacts early on Tuesday.”

Nasa revealed last week that global temperature records were broken in January, February and March, but Scotland is unlikely to witness the trend if the forecast for the next 24 hours is any guide.

The winds, coming in off the Arctic, will be strong to gale force in exposed areas. It means that, a week after much of the country enjoyed temperatures of 15C, the mercury will fall to around 7C, about four degrees below the average for this time of year.

However, conditions are expected to ease overnight. From tomorrow until the weekend, temperatures will remain low but the winds will ease, with a mixture of bright and sunny spells and showers.

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