Clear skies, light wind and widespread snow cover gave us another opportunity to shoot for UK’s coldest temperature of the 2017-18 winter.
False colour imagery shows the widespread snow cover across Scotland yesterday afternoon. NASA
The thermometer dipped to -13.5C at Dalwhinnie, initially thought to be the UK’s lowest overnight reading before anticipated cloud moved in.
Temperatures dipped to -13.5 °C at Dalwhinnie in Scotland last night, giving us the coldest temperature across the UK since February 2016. However, tonight generally looks much milder, with many parts escaping a #frost pic.twitter.com/JqERtGOI8c
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 21, 2018
However it was Kinbrace, Sutherland which stole the prize for being the UK’s coldest of winter with -13.7C.
It was the coldest night of the #winter so far last night. The mercury fell to -14C (-13.7C) at #Kinbrace in #Sutherland. Chris pic.twitter.com/98q8DYyKuy
— BBC Scotland Weather (@BBCScotWeather) January 21, 2018
Kinbrace also recorded yesterday’s lowest maximum of -3.6C.
Had skies remained clear till daybreak, we may have been looking at -16 or -18C and coldest reading since 2010.
The cloud was associated with a game changing Atlantic low. A game changer because this is the system which is bringing the current cold spell to an end.
With warm bumping into cold, you get problems!
Snow, ice and flooding are affecting large parts of the UK, from northern Scotland to the southern counties of England.https://t.co/UZaqtE1N0L
— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) January 21, 2018
As the moisture bumped into the cold air, we got a pretty good snowfall before it changed over to rain.
Credit: Met Office
Cumbernauld/M80/M8 this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/QJedzeJEjl
— MarkVoganWeather.com (@MarkVogan) January 21, 2018
After about an hour of heavy snow, the warming aloft changed the snow to rain across the Central Lowlands.
Still only 1-2C at the surface but likely 3-5C about 1-2,000ft up hence why precip changed to rain.
BBC Weather
While it’s changed over to rain in the Central Lowlands, it remains cold enough for snow to continue further north.
@trafficscotland this is #a9 northbound at Dalwhinnie right now pic.twitter.com/Ii0D3p3jmp
— Lauren MacColl (@Laurenmaccoll1) January 21, 2018
As it cooled sharply in Scotland after dark last night, we saw it warming in the southwest and this was/is the sign of what’s coming for all.
Met Office
Still quite cold tonight at the surface but the air continues to warm aloft.
Current surface
Meteoceil
But at 850mb on the back edge of the warm front?, well it’s about the same but I bet it’s warmer in-between the surface and 5,000ft!
Credit: wxcharts.eu
The air we currently have over Ireland, Northern Ireland and SW England and Wales will spread northwards tomorrow.
That warmer air will mix down to the surface and erode the cold dense air late tonight through tomorrow.
Note the difference in surface Mon, Tue, pm’s before a touch cooler again Wed in the wake of LP.
Credit: wxcharts.eu
Credit: wxcharts.eu
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Iain Cameron
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