Scotland has been hit by further sub-zero temperatures today, with some schools being forced to close and motorists facing travel disruption.
In Aberdeenshire, the Met Office reported instances of “thundersnow” as thunderstorms struck alongside the flurry, with photos showing a lightning bolt strike over snow in Largue.
A yellow weather alert for snow and ice is in force across northern Scotland and has been extended until 12pm on Sunday. The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for ice across southern Scotland until noon on Friday.
Gritters were out in force as councils battled to keep roads open in the worst affected areas. Traffic Scotland reported a number of roads were closed due to the snowfall.
Many schools in the Aberdeenshire area were closed on Thursday and some schools in the Highlands were partly shut on Friday.
Snow was disrupting travel on Friday morning, with snow gates closed on the A939 at Cock Bridge snow gate and the B974 at Cairn O’Mount in Aberdeenshire, Traffic Scotland said.
Network Rail said a normal service is planned across Scotland on Friday but, with cold temperatures expected into next week, a call will be held to go over the detailed weather forecast.
On Thursday, forecasters confirmed that there had been 5cm of snow in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, and at Althnaharra in the Highlands, along with 3cm at Dyce, near Aberdeen.
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington warned there is an "increasing risk of snow as the week progresses".
Mr Willington said: "As an Arctic, maritime airmass settles across the UK, temperatures will fall with widespread overnight frosts, severe in places, and daytime temperatures only a few degrees above freezing.
"However, the cold air from the Arctic will also bring brighter conditions, with some dry, sunny spells, particularly away from the coast and where winds are light it could feel pleasant in the sunshine. Some patchy freezing fog is also likely."
Scotland is braced for freezing temperatures, with warnings they could drop as low as minus 10C overnight in some areas.
Forecasters said accumulations of 2-5cm of snow are possible at lower levels in the yellow snow and ice warning area, with 10-15cm above 200 metres, especially across the North Highlands, Moray and Aberdeenshire.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said: "Our gritting fleet has been treating all our primary routes this afternoon and will be out again tomorrow morning, as we are expecting wintry showers to continue overnight, with road temperatures falling below zero.
"While there have been no significant impacts today, the snow and ice has led to the closure or partial closure of some of our schools, mostly due to transport difficulties.
"We'd ask everybody to plan ahead if they have a need to travel, and to follow the latest weather forecasts."
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