It might be the middle of spring, but the north and north-east of Scotland is warned to expect more wintry weather this week.
Residents woke up to blizzards of snow and hail yesterday, and forecasts are predicting more of the same as the week goes on.
Tree branches were downed onto roads as gale force winds swept across the north-east coast, with sleet, snow and rain reported all the way to the Highlands and islands.
A Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice will be in place for Grampian, the Highlands and Eilean Siar until 8am today.
And the forecaster has warned the wintry weather will continue right to the weekend with temperatures expected to drop to -1C in places this morning.
There were snow showers across the region, from Aboyne to Aberdeen yesterday, coupled with gusts of up to 52mph in the morning and afternoon.
The white stuff is expected to settle overnight across the north and north-east, but will melt away in all but the highest regions.
It was expected to land in the villages of Braemar and Aviemore this morning and to lie.
Intermittent showers are forecast throughout the next few days.
Aberdeen Met Office meteorologist, Stuart Brookes, said it would be “more of the same” for the next few days.
Speaking last night he added: “We have had fairly strong northerly winds and a mix of showers going all day.
“This time of year is really very hard for the snow to settle during the daytime just because the sun is too strong and ground is
so warm. It melts away in no time except on the hills.
“At night time there is more chance of it starting to settle. As you go further inland and up to the Highlands accumulations are forming on roads and maybe even ice overnight.
“But temperatures overnight will not fall that low. Maybe 0C to -1C in higher parts around Aviemore and Braemar.
“Day time is probably looking no better than 6C or 7C for most.”
Mr Brookes said a cold front which made its way to the north of Scotland from Iceland throughout Sunday night had caused much of the wintry weather.
He added: “This is still very cold for April. Cold air will be milling around our neck of the woods for the next few days.
“We’ll be looking at frost most nights during the week and not really seeing anything milder until during the next weekend.”
