The north-east was battered by heavy winds, sleet and snow yesterday as coastal communities faced the very real threat of tidal flooding.
A string of schools across Aberdeenshire were closed, transport was disrupted and as many as 600 homes were without electricity after high winds damaged power lines.
The local authority handed out sandbags in Macduff, Banff, Scotstown and Fraserburgh after the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency warned of tidal flooding.
Dog walkers and photographers were urged to stay clear of cliffs and quaysides as dramatic footage showed 10ft and 20ft waves crashing over harbour walls across the Buchan region.
Heavy snowfall forced road closures in the area. The A93 Braemar to Cairnwell road, the B974 Banchory to Fettercairn route and the A97 Lumsden to Rhynie road were all hampered by the weather conditions.
The Rosehearty to Sandhaven route was also closed due to coastal flooding.
Warnings were issued to drivers on the A952 between Toll of Birness and Mintlaw and on the B9077 between South Deeside Road and Leggart Terrace due to sleet and surface water.
Schools in Towie, Strathdon, Logie Coldstone and St Combs were all closed to pupils and poor driving conditions disrupted school bus services at Alford, Meldrum and Turriff academies.
SSE deployed helicopters to look for damage to overhead power lines in the north-east. The majority of homes were reconnected by mid-afternoon.
By early evening, Aberdeenshire Council announced it had deployed gritters equipped with snow ploughs to all routes in the area. They were due to resume gritting and clearing deep snow at 5.30am this morning.
Last night, the Met Office issued a yellow ice warning across the Grampian area.
Officials said ice was likely to form on untreated surfaces especially where showers of sleet, snow and hail occurred.
As much as three inches of snow could fall on higher ground with around an inch expected in some low-lying areas.
Residents have been urged to take precautions while travelling and to expect longer journey times.
The Met Office’s chief forecaster said: “A cold north to northwesterly airstream will maintain the risk of wintery showers through Friday night and Saturday morning.
“However, amounts of snow are likely to be very variable with some places remaining dry altogether.”
