North-east residents woke up to another dose of snow yesterday as winter weather continued to grip the region.
And forecasters warned that the worst is not over yet, with more severe weather on the horizon.
Roads were once again in lock-down as heavy snow fell across inland areas of Aberdeenshire in the early hours.
Throughout the morning, a yellow Met Office weather warning – urging people to “be aware” of snow, sleet and ice – remained in force across Grampian.
Upper Deeside was among the worst hit areas, with communities in the region’s Highland border waking up to yet more snow – turning villages such as Braemar into a winter wonderland.
Temperatures dropped to -4.5C in the rural Aberdeenshire village and to -3.5C at the Balmoral Estate.
The Met Office weather warning lifted at noon, by which point between 1in and 4in of snow had fallen across parts of Aberdeenshire.
The weather disrupted travel on the B974 Strachan to Fettercairn road, which remained closed until about 4pm due to compacted ice.
The winter weather soon turned to sleet and rain across the entire region.
Forecasters revealed the weather would be warmer today and tomorrow before another spell of “unsettled weather” arrives on Friday – which may well bring more snow.
Met Office spokeswoman, Lindsay Mears, said temperatures would be about 6C this morning in some areas, and could even reach 13C throughout the day.
She added: “Snow will be clearing away and strong south-eastern winds are developing.
“We are going to get milder temperatures of 6C overnight. A mild, cloudy start with outbreaks of mostly light rain.
“The odd shower will spread through late morning and afternoon and there will be sunny intervals as well. It will be a bit more pleasant.
“But unfortunately as we approach the weekend it gets wet and windy.
“There could be wintry showers rather than heavy snow. It is an unstable picture.”
When the snowfall was at its heaviest yesterday, one Aberdeenshire ranger captured his encounter with a red deer stag near the Spittal of Glenmuick.
Head ranger at Balmoral Estate, Glyn Jones, spotted the animal seeking shelter.
He said: “I’m over at Glen Muick most days and see them regularly. There’s a bachelor herd of over-wintering stags at the Spittal of Glenmuick.
“They’ll be there most days throughout the winter, spring and early summer.”