Snow in Shetland after UK's coldest May night in five years

Shetland has had a flurry of heavy snow just hours after the UK recorded its coldest May night in five years.

The Met Office said the temperature fell to -6.1C in Altnaharra in the Highlands overnight.

On Wednesday morning, Shetland had snow showers before temperatures rose again.

On 6 May 2021 - when Scotland was going to the polls in a Holyrood election - snowfall brought disruption to parts of the country.

Other overnight temperatures included -5.3C Kinbrace in the Highlands, -4.3C in Braemar in Aberdeenshire and -1.1C in Dyce in Aberdeen.

David Wheeler, a weather expert in Fair Isle, said low pressure north of Shetland had brought colder air down from Arctic regions to the islands.

He described the snow as a "shock", and warned that climate change was altering movements of air and making low temperatures in May less unusual.

Wheeler said that at this time of year winds would normally be bringing up air from warmer latitudes.

He said milder weather was expected over the weekend, followed by a cooler period with the return of a northerly air flow.

Snow in spring in Scotland is not unusual, and some of its highest hills and mountains had a dusting in early June last year and in June 2024.

In 2010, more than 100 skiers took advantage of ski tows being open at the Cairngorm Mountain resort near Aviemore for the first time in midsummer.

Previously at this time of year people were able to ski in the Cairngorms, however, they had to trek to where the snow was.