STV NewsScotland experienced its coldest January night in 15 years as temperatures plummeted to -18.9C in the Highlands.
The Met Office said temperatures in Altnaharra in Sutherland dropped to -18.9C overnight, while Kinbrace reached -17.9C and Aviemore dropped to -16C.
It marks the lowest January temperature since the severe cold of 2010 when the mercury hit -22.3C on January 8, 2010 in Tulloch Bridge.
It follows over a week of low temperatures as parts of the north east and Highlands have been battered with heavy snow and ice, closing schools and nurseries which were due to reopen following the Christmas break.
Aberdeen is set to be the coldest city in Scotland on Saturday, with temperatures as low as -6C already recorded, while Dyce, on the outskirts of the city, recorded -9.9C.
Chilly temperatures are expected throughout the country on Saturday as the big freeze continues.
There have been no fresh postponements to the weekend’s football programme but the SPFL did take the decision on Friday to call off a handful of lower league matches.
In League 1, Annan’s home match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Cove Rangers’ game against Montrose and Dumbarton’s fixture against Arbroath all fell victim to the frozen conditions, while in League 2 Bonnyrigg Rose’s match against Stranraer and Stirling Albion’s game against The Spartans were called off.
The league will announce rearranged dates in due course.
However as the chilly weather eases off, SEPA has issued flood warnings for parts of the north east and Highlands as the heavy snow which fell over the past week begins to thaw.
SEPA said the rapid snow melt combined with a period of rain could bring a danger to life, as homes and businesses are flooded and travel is disrupted.
The flood alert covers Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Caithness and Sutherland, Easter Ross and Great Glen, Findhorn, Nairn, Moray and Speyside, Skye and Lochaber, Tayside and Wester Ross.
SEPA said: “Flooding from rivers and surface water is likely widely across the north of the country on Sunday through to Tuesday morning due to rapid snow melt and a period of rain.
“Localised property flooding, flooding of roads and disruption to travel is likely. The Spey valley is potentially at greater risk, with more significant flooding impacts and disruption possible here.”
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