WINTER crashed in with one of the coldest October days for a decade yesterday.
Two inches of snow fell on higher ground and closed Highland roads as temperatures plunged to minus seven on Friday night and the forecast is for raw winds until Tuesday.
The clocks went back last night to signal the start of winter but the snow gates on the A939 between Cockbridge and Tomintoul, Moray, had already been shut due to “heavy snowfall”.
A car also crashed off the A9 in difficult driving conditions at Lynbeg, near Inverness.
The chilly temperatures will be here until Tuesday, and commuters may encounter ice on the roads tomorrow morning.
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “After Saturday’s snow flurries, a mini ‘Beast from the East’ will affect Scotland until Tuesday, with raw winds due to high pressure over Scandinavia.”
It was the first significant snow in October since 2012, according to the Met Office, and prompted warnings to hillwalkers and climbers.
Heather Morning of Mountaineering Scotland warned: “Conditions can be very treacherous at this time of year and having the right equipment isn’t enough.”
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