After weeks of blue skies and glorious spring sunshine, the north-east was dealt a blast of winter weather today and the Met Office have warned the cold weather is here to stay for a few days.
Temperatures dropped below freezing, with snow battering large parts of the country today and unfortunately tomorrow is not expected to be much warmer.
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has been left white following today’s snowfall while temperatures are due to drop as low as -3C in parts of Deeside tonight and tomorrow and -1C in Aberdeen.
The Met Office has placed a yellow warning for ice across Grampian – which will be in effect until 7am tomorrow morning.
Met Office meteorologist, Fraser Rolston, said the cold weather would continue tomorrow with more wintry showers forecast.
He said temperatures in Aberdeen tomorrow were going to drop to -1C, but added the worst of the ice would melt quickly.
He said: “Currently there is sleet and wind and snow falling over a reasonable part of Grampian, there is some hail as well.
“The snow is mainly settling on uplands areas up above 100m (328ft) like you had towards Ballater, Braemar, Keith and Dufftown.
“We are not expecting anything to settle in the city or the coast, it is more inland and rural towns might get a cover of sleety snow.”
He added: “I think ice will be an issue tomorrow. A few rural areas may be down to about -2C maybe -3C in the Cairngorms and places like Braemar. But temperatures will rise quite quickly.”
“Most of what ice is there will thaw by 6am or 7am, it will be gone by the time folk are out and about.”
“There will be some further wintry showers with hail and sleet mixed in. There is a cold couple of days ahead.”
Sleet, hail and heavy rain have been widespread across the north-east and Moray since this afternoon.
Roads were described as “treacherous” by a spokesman from the Scottish Ambulance Service as cars were sent skidding off routes due to the conditions.
The A939 Cock Bridge to Tomintoul road is closed one mile south of The Lecht Ski Centre for the first time in weeks due to the snow.