The unseasonable wintry weather continued across the north-east yesterday, with thunder and blizzards of snow, sleet and rain causing problems on the roads.
And there is no sign of spring’s return just yet, with forecasters expecting temperatures to drop as low as -5C in areas of Grampian today.
More thunder is predicted while snow will accumulate across Aberdeen city, shire and Moray as a cold front from the Arctic endures across the north of Scotland.
Yesterday residents across the north-east woke up to winter scenes, with several inches of snow reported in the remotest regions including Alford and Braemar.
Temperatures dropped to -0.9C at Aberdeen International Airport and -0.4C in Aboyne; however this morning lows of -5C, -4C and -3C are possible in Aberdeenshire and Moray.
And temperatures in Aberdeen could drop to -1C.
A Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice will remain in place until 8am.
Yesterday the weather caused problems for commuters, with a bus coming off the A957 Stonehaven to Crathes road, leaving the driver with minor injuries.
Police and ambulance teams were called to the scene of the incident, about four miles from Stonehaven on a bend, just before 8am.
An arctic lorry also become stuck on the road due to heavy snow yesterday morning near to Darnford, Durris.
Elsewhere a man had a lucky escape after his Peugeot 308 came off the South Deeside Road, near Durris, and plunged down an embankment.
Emergency services were called to the scene at about 4.25am and found the man trapped in his vehicle.
However, he managed to free himself and paramedics found him to only have cuts and bruises following the accident.
A police spokesman said: “We were notified by a member of the public of a one-vehicle crash on South Deeside Road just outside Durris.
“The vehicle was found down an embankment.
Elsewhere the A93 Ballater to Glenshee road was closed at the Braemar snow gates, as was the B974 Fettercairn to Banchory – Cairn O’Mount road due to the weather.
The A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road was also hit by snowfall, particularly between Huntly and Inverurie – and the Met Office has warned of more of the same today.
And last night Aberdeen Met Office meteorologist, Greg Wolverson, said: “It is quite unseasonably cold weather at the moment with the air coming from the north and the Arctic really.
“It has been quite unstable. Luckily because of the time of the year nothing tends to lie. When the snow did fall it was quite heavy in the air but it did melt straight away.
“There is quite a widespread frost overnight, particularly inland with showers moving across with more patches of ice and accumulations of snow. The snow is more in the higher roads.
“If you are out and about first thing don’t be surprised to see a lot of snow falling.
“It will be a bit of everything, in between the showers there will be some sunshine. It won’t be impossible that we get another rumble of thunder.
“One thing that will make a difference on Wednesday is the winds won’t be quite as strong. We start to see a bit of milder air into the latter part of the week.”
But there is good news for snow sport enthusiasts, as the Cairngorm Mountain’s ski slopes are open until at least Monday with staff then considering their position from there.
Glencoe Ski Centre will remain open until Monday, but have said that will definitely be their final day.
However the north and north-east’s three other ski centres – Nevis Range, The Lecht and Glenshee – said they have no plans to reopen in current conditions.
