Northernlights

Off topic I know but there was an occasion in the late 1960s in early December one Saturday when we received six inches of snow right to sea level on a west wind. Never seen such a black stormy sky in winter. until late November 2010 on a north east wind.

A bit of a dinosaur no smart phone cows would probably stand on it!! So taken on a camera.

A couple of photos from todays sunrise to the West and the South East The South East shows the nearest windfarm to us and the West captures the moon as well. Currently -1c

Wind dropped out to nothing this morning so made it a great day to handle all calves for cutting and dehorning along with dosing with trace elements. Ground frozen hard and farm road dusty.Amazing after so much water.

Strong southerly wind here at -1c .If its anything like as windy in the hills then its going to be dangerous up there.

Sunny start to the day at -4c with low humidity air combining to dry up the mud.and cattle much dryer in the folds.Long may it continue.

Slowly improving today and with some bits of clear sky the ground frost has been spreading. Quite strange frost this morning with random patches everywhere complete with a covering of last nights hail. Currently 1.5c

On the farm its been a slog since the middle of last July constantly looking for more than just one dry day and with the last few days beeing so damp and humid its not been very uplifting . The lack of sunshine has not helped either. Its not been healthy for man nor beast never heard of so many folk with infections. Mrs Northernlights has been without a voice for nearly three weeks!! On New Years eve an old farming neighbour and I both wished each other a dry sunny year for 2018 lasting at least to October. On the weather front its dull with an east wind and 1.5c. No sign of the snow showers predicted on the local forecast for today so will the air frost turn up tonight. Haven"t even got the Christmas lights left to cheer up these dark days so yes its very hard to find the positives.

Another dull dreich day with a few light showers coming from the east along the coast. In the last few minutes we have had very heavy shower of hail and the ground is white. Temperature is now 1c

Have to agree with some of the posts above its been a real winters day here, dark, dank ,misty and calm. No need to look in the model thread for winter. The maximum today was 1.5c and ground frost lay all day with ice refreezing on any puddles that were driven through even in the middle of the day. Everything is very slippy. We even have frozen ice snow from last week in lots of sheltered areas especially in the woods so its easy to go for a snowy looking walk. Wintering sheep from Skye are devouring the last fields of green grass and there is no fresh growth like this time last year so will have to start feeding them in about two weeks time if temperatures remain the same. Even the bulbs are behind last year. Its still 1.5c too. Just to add clouds both high and low are now coming in from an easterly direction today.

Fine sunny day here but frost been digging in in the shade since dawn. Currently 1c

Dull dreich day here too.Started off at 1c with a ground frost and overcast then rained late am till now off and on with a maximum temperature of 3c. A fresh wind also got up around midday became calm in the afternoon but has risen to strong again in the last hour.

Was talking to Aurora Storm about this forecast easterly and she was saying that if some of the coldest solutions come off and we look at a spell of weather similar to December 2010 then maybe potent winter cold will not be so rare in the future and something has changed to cause it. Also I am one of those who believes the sun is an influential driver of our weather and it is now becoming much less active with the lack of sunspots similar to some of the years prior to 2010. So in my opinion a series of colder winters beckons

Fine start to the day with blue skies.Lots of snow on the hills round the Firth. Flocks of pigeons too on the lookout for feed (possibly Scandinavian ones) A maximum of 2.5c

Winter won"t let go this morning, clear and frosty start at -2c with ice on everything. Local bonfire last night was moonlit and calm, ideal conditions

Just finished peeling all the veg for tomorrows lunch and went out to cattle with the peelings and its still raining as it has done since about midday. Still frozen bits of snow in shelterd areas. Currently 2.5c. May I wish everyone a Happy New Year and if we are very lucky we may seem dry snow in the New Year.

Clear skies just now at 1.5c with a ground frost and sparkling patches of old icy snow The moon has a big halo round it so it looks as though its going to be wet, be it snow , sleet or rain in the next 24 hours.

Cold dull day with temperature just above freezing a little rain just now with it freezing to the ground. No sign of a major warm up in the next week and seems to be at least a ground frost every night for my neck of the woods. Winter is here.

Clear frosty start to the day at -2c . Frost has been going into the ground these last two days its now iron hard.

-4c this morning with if its correct a reading of 20%RH banishing the mud so easier walking outside. Might not need so much straw to keep cattle dry today. New Year seems to be a tipping point for dryer air to take hold, cattle too always thrive better after New Year due to the dryer air.

A few photos inland on the moor road from Glenferness to Grantown-on Spey. Never got above 2c here today with flurries of snow and hail. Currently 1c. Should be frosty tonight with clearing skies.

And to end the day a fine Arctic sunset across the Firth Currently 0c .

Had some heavier bursts too.A few photos of showers coming in off the Firth this morning. Currently 1c From the look of the 14 day outlook on here this neck of the woods should keep snow cover in sheltered areas Another point is that west wind snow is always heavier although wetter so there is the potential for some very deep accumulations in the next 14 days epecially on the hills.

Just a dusting overnight followed by a slight frost. Just started to lightly snow again at -1c.

A sequence of photos showing the build up of a band of snow from the north culminating in moderate settling snow now at 1.5c .They also show Ben Wyvis and I think the windfarm at Brahn. Cows shown too making their way to the turnips in sunny conditions Will put a photo up later if it builds up.