Arctic snap expected to intensify after temperatures in Scotland plunge below -15C

Temperatures plummeted below -15C overnight in parts of Scotland as forecasters warned an Arctic snap blanketing swathes of the country in snow is set to last for several days.

The wintry weather saw extremely icy conditions across much of the country, with the Highlands village of Kinbrace recording -15.2C.

STV meteorologist Sean Batty confirmed that Loch Glascarnoch and Altnaharra recorded -14C, Aviemore -10C and -9C in Aboyne.

He predicted: “We’ll continue to have very low temps over the next week, with some new March records likely to be set.”

Shetlands covered in snow on Wednesday morning. Donna Simpson

It comes after much of north and north-east Scotland was covered with snow on Tuesday morning.

The severe weather led to disruption across the country including schools closures, flights being cancelled at Aberdeen airport and commuting chaos.

Sub-zero temperatures are predicted across the UK until at least Friday.

Puppy takes in the snow in Fintray on Tuesday. Fubar News

Following a “very chilly” start to Wednesday, the Met Office has issued several yellow weather warnings for snow and ice which may lead to injuries from slips and falls and cause travel disruption.

The warnings for Wednesday cover northern and eastern Scotland until 10am, and Northern Ireland and southern England until 9am.

Forecasters have said in most places the snowfall will continue until Friday, with a yellow warning for snow covering the whole of Scotland from 3am on Thursday until 6pm on Friday.

A commuter skis up Aberdeen's Union Street on Tuesday. — A commuter skis up Aberdeen’s Union Street on Tuesday. Fubar News

The Met Office said snow could develop quite widely as a potentially quite deep area of low pressure moves across the UK, with parts of Scotland and northern England forecast to see the heaviest snow on Friday.

Up to 10cm is expected widely, even on lower ground – with accumulations as much as 20cm forecast up north.

Higher parts of the Central Belt and the southern Highlands may see as much as 40cm of snow in places.

It's a very chilly start to Wednesday for many of us

Kinbrace in Scotland dopped to -15.2 Celsius overnight, making it the coldest night of the year so far 🥶 pic.twitter.com/f7ovqgG6T6
— Met Office (@metoffice) March 8, 2023

The Met Office said there was a chance some rural communities could become cut off, with chances of power cuts and adverse affects on other services, such as mobile phone coverage.

Drivers have been warned to take extra care with delays on roads and risk of strandings likely with rail and air travel also facing possible disruption.