WHILE A YELLOW Alert for snow and ice in Moray is due to end this morning, forecasters are warning that the entire north and north east can expect the icy blast to continue this week.
Just seven days after people were enjoying the glorious warmth of spring they woke up yesterday to icy blasts and in many cases snow on the ground – even in some low-lying areas of the region.
Forecasters warned of the return of sub-zero overnight temperatures – blaming exceptionally strong northerly winds that have taken overnight temperatures back to zero.
“We have had fairly strong northerly winds and a mixture of showers all day on Monday,” a spokesman said, adding: “That was as predicted and while the yellow severe weather warning for the region ends at 8am today it will be pretty much more of the same for the remainder of the week.
“Snowfalls are not really causing too much of a problem as at this time of the year when the sun does come up it is warm enough to quickly melt any snow on the ground, although anyone out at night should be wary of surface conditions.”
While it is not entirely unusual for April to produce a final icy blast this year a cold front sent down from Iceland from Sunday has been the root of exceptionally cold air.
“We will be looking at overnight frost most nights this week,” the spokesman said, adding: “Cold air will stick around for a few days yet but things are expected to warm up again after the weekend.”