A local weather pundit warns that Caithness can expect temperatures to plummet further with a big freeze expected tonight (January 9).
The Met Office has also posted an update warning of snow showers and ice leading to further travel disruption today and tomorrow.
Met Office warning for snow and ice in Caithness today and tomorrow.
It states: “Sleet and snow showers will continue for the rest of Thursday, dying out across northwest Scotland overnight but persisting across northeast Scotland until Friday morning.
“Further accumulations of 1-4cm are expected at low levels away from coasts with 5-10cm possible above 150 metres. Where any modest daytime thaw has occurred, icy stretches are likely on untreated surfaces.”
Gritters out and about in Caithness. Picture: DGS
Wick weather watcher Keith Banks said: “With a ridge of high pressure building in from the west today, the supply of Arctic air will be cut off.
“However, with clear skies and negligible winds, temperatures on Thursday night will plummet, with the prospect of many places in Caithness experiencing their lowest air temperatures of the winter. Inland parts, in particular, could see temperatures fall to a brutal minus 10C (14F).”
He continued: “Here in Wick, the temperature bottomed out at a moderately severe minus 3C (26.6F). Yesterday, the temperatures in the town stayed below freezing for most of the day, peaking briefly at 2.5C (36.5F).
“Up to 1cm of snow carpeted the burgh on Thursday morning. Wick experienced its coldest night of the winter so far on Sunday night when the mercury dropped to a severe minus 5.7C (21.7F).”
Snow on Banks Road in Watten on January 9. Picture: DGS
Highland Council sent out a road report for Caithness at 8.26am today stating: “Fresh cover of light snow in most areas with continued snow showers up to 1 inch on inland roads. All routes being treated as resources allow.”