Northern Scotland has already received more weather warnings this winter than last with Met Office predicting more “Siberian” weather for the UK.
Met Office figures show that in winter 2016/17 the Highlands & Islands and Grampian got 102 severe weather warnings, including updates.
That tally has already been surpassed in the first two months of this winter as both northern regions reached 108 weather warnings.
Grampian bore the brunt of the wintry weather with 60 warnings and updates issued since December 1 while the Highlands got 48.
It will not be clear until then end of February how many more warnings will be issued.
A spokesman for the Met Office said: “We have had a fair amount of Atlantic storms, nine storms – including the former hurricane Ophelia.
“That dragged in cold air behind it which was quite lingering so in terms of conditions, there has been a variety of weather warnings issued.
“So it has been a really stormy winter and mixed into that was ice and snow in between the storms alongside milder conditions.”
That could be a sign of things to come as climate change is making winters less cold over time but with above average wind and rain.
Temperatures for northern Scotland show that they have seesawed over the last four years but on average are still warmer than figures for 1961.
That sort of dynamic makes for the type of weather the north has been experienced with milder spells punctuated by stormier conditions.
That weather caused frequent train cancellations as track was undermined or blocked often caused by snow melting after a quick thaw.
Schools were closed leaving thousands of children out of school and conditions on many Scottish mountains considered treacherous due to the conditions.
In mid-January the Highland Council was one of many local authorities to go through its winter maintenance budget early.
It is thought the council needed to overspend in order to keep pavements and roads under its remit gritted.
But there is still more to come with the dreaded Siberian or Russian weather that forecasters warn could last into March.
‘Siberian’ weather could last until March
The next period of cold weather for the UK lasting until March.
The generally mild week will be replaced by high pressure which will allow colder Eastern European air to flow in over the weekend.
There are indications that the this will remain well into next week with even colder Russian or Siberian weather to hit the north, with minus temperatuers in daytime.
Despite the blast of cold air coming the risk of snow is low because of the dry nature of the air but that could change after the weekend.
Wednesday will see the wind chill drop substantially so it could feel as low as -2C but with long dry spells with the only showers coming in the North West.
Overnight to Thursday there will be some mist patches possible in sheltered areas and frost developing quite widely with a minimum temperature -3C.
Thursday is likely to remain mostly dry with some sunny periods but the west is likely to see a shower or two.
It will also be windy over the Isles and light wintry showers may reach the east on Saturday and frosts overnight.