North Top (Aberdeenshire) weather

Headline:

Cold with frequent heavy snow showers and strong winds.

Today:

A very cold day with snow and hail showers, these often heavy and frequent, especially in the morning where the odd rumble of thunder possible. Strong northerly winds with continued coastal gale and drifting snow risk. Maximum temperature 1 °C.

Tonight:

Very cold overnight with heavy snow showers continuing, best of any drier spells in the south. Strong northerly winds which may cause drifting snow. Minimum temperature -4 °C.

Sunday:

Another very cold day with heavy snow showers, which may be thundery at times. Some drier and brighter spells possible. Strong northerly winds mainly around the coasts. Maximum temperature 1 °C.

Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:

Snow showers generally easing Monday with lighter winds. Rain and hill snow spreading east early Tuesday. Dry for a time Wednesday but rain and snow later with winds strengthening. Cold.

The recent spell of cold, northerly winds should begin to ease by the middle of next week, with snow showers in the north and east becoming lighter and less frequent. However, bands of rain seem likely to gradually move in off the Atlantic and, as these encounter the cold air entrenched over the UK, some further snowfall is possible, particularly in central and eastern areas, with rain more likely in the west. From next weekend, the outlook becomes more uncertain. Most likely is that conditions will be less cold than recently, but there remains potential for further spells of snow, especially in northern and central areas. Further south and west, some milder interludes are possible, with the chance of some heavier rain and stronger winds at times.

The outlook through the second half of January is very uncertain, with no strong indication for any particular weather pattern to dominate. As such, conditions are most likely to be changeable. Spells of wet, windy and mild weather are possible at times, along with colder, drier interludes with overnight frost and fog. Snow and ice remain possible, especially in central and northern parts of the UK, but the chance of these is lower than earlier in the month.