First snow of the season

We were startled earlier this evening when the temperature suddenly dropped from 2C to -2C and snow started falling.

It wasn’t because snow is unusual at this time of year, but because we’ve had a dearth of genuinely cold days throughout most of the autumn.

We’ve had a couple of hard frosts, we’ve had gales, and we’ve had almost continuous rain for weeks but, in general, temperatures have been resolute in staying above zero.

Normally, we’d expect the cold to gradually intensify, for there to be chilly but sunny days, and for there to be sporadic falls of sleet or light snow for several weeks before the first, proper snowfalls.

Instead, we’ve sloshed our way through a very wet autumn and then, very abruptly, lurched into an outbreak of winter.

Needless to say, the mainstream weather forecasts failed to mention the snow although the UK Wind Map had it right again, predicting snowfalls at Keith, just up the road from us.

Now, the snow is coming down hard enough to settle, despite the ground being sodden, with water lying in numerous puddles.

It’s going to mean an even bigger morass of slop, muck and ooze tomorrow. Unless, of course, it gets really cold and we get a proper freeze as well.

Something to look forward to…