LAST night marked one of the coldest in Scotland, with temperatures forecast to fall even further on Thursday as the current weather warning is extended.
Cold temperatures are expected to persist, with some areas in the Highlands forecast to reach a sharp minus 16C.
On Thursday, the Met Office extended the current snow and ice yellow weather warning for Grampian, the Highlands, Shetland, and Orkney until 10am on Friday, January 10.
In these areas, snow showers and ice will lead to further travel disruption and possible school closing.
Dalwhinnie, a small village in the Scottish Highlands located on the western edge of the Cairngorms National Park, is forecast to reach minus 14C – the lowest temperature recorded since January 17, 2024.
Meanwhile, Altnaharra in the Highlands is expected to experience an overnight low of minus 16C, which will mark the coldest January temperature in the UK in 15 years.
Last night's coldest areas of Scotland
Last night, a total of six locations across the country recorded an average temperature of minus 10C.
Tulloch Bridge, a weather station located east of Fort William, recorded the coldest temperature of the night, reaching minus 12C. In Dumfries and Galloway, Eskdalemuir recorded minus 10C.
Loch Glascarnoch, a man-made reservoir located between Ullapool and Inverness, similarly recorded minus 10C.
Further south, Drumnadrochit, situated on the shores of Loch Ness, also recorded minus 10C.
Scotland’s two largest cities experienced chilly temperatures as well, with Glasgow reaching minus 7C and Edinburgh recording minus 6C.
The freezing temperatures have also impacted thousands of pupils, as more than 150 schools have been forced to close and will remain closed.
The Highland Council area has been the most affected, with 134 primary, secondary, and special schools shut, and 81 nurseries unable to open their doors for the past three days due to the snow and ice weather warning.
