SCOTLAND could be colder than inside a fridge freezer on Thursday night as temperatures fall to a possible -20°C.
Weather experts on Wednesday warned the public to wrap up ahead of some of the coldest conditions of the century.
A woman walks her dog in the village of Muir of Ord in the Highlands where snow continues to fall on Wednesday[/caption]
Wintry conditions in Aberdeen as yellow alerts remain in place[/caption]
Stags and roes stand on the snowfell mountainside on the A93 north to Braemar as parts of Scotland are under a yellow weather warning[/caption]
There were fears the mercury could even plummet below the -18°C (-0.4F) recommended by manufacturers to keep frozen goods rock-solid in kitchen iceboxes.
Yellow warnings of snow and ice have been extended across the northern half of the country, plus Orkney and Shetland, until midnight — in a ninth consecutive day of weather alerts.
Up to six inches of the white stuff is possible in the worst-hit areas.
Shivering city-goers face -7°C (19F) in Edinburgh and -8°C (18) in Glasgow.
But towns and villages across northern Scotland endured the worst of the Arctic blast on Wednesday.
Up to 2,500 children got another day off as 50 primaries plus seven high schools stayed shut in the Highlands.
A few more were closed in Aberdeenshire, while others were forced to open later as staff endured travel delays.
One dog walker shrugged off blizzards to trudge through thick snow in Muir of Ord, Easter Ross.
An old fishing boat sat in freezing water in the shadow of snowcapped Ben Nevis in Corpach, near Fort William, Inverness-shire.
And resident James Davidson took to his driveway with a snow blower in Tarland, Aberdeenshire.
Granite City streets appeared traffic-free.
And stags and roes roamed snowy hills over Braemar where this century’s low of -23°C (-9F) was recorded in 2021.
Home owners were asked to check on elderly neighbours while insurance company Direct Line sent texts to thousands of customers, warning of possible frozen pipes.
Last night, the Met Office said: “Sleet and snow showers will continue before dying out by the end of Thursday evening.
People view a former fishing boat on the shore of Loch Linnhe in front of Ben Nevis[/caption]
James Davidson using a snow blower to clear his drive way in Tarland[/caption]
“Further accumulations of 3-7cm (three inches) are expected to low levels, with 10-15cm (up to six inches) possible above 150 metres.
“Where any modest thaw has occurred, icy stretches are likely.”
More alerts could be issued before the weekend.
