Norrona2015

Getting old so muddled up dates is possible, as is self soiling. 09/10 was when the local bridge filled with water either side, froze, and twisted away from the banks so it must have been spectacularly cold for that to happen: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-10738174 Early Jan 2010 I was taking the car into Aberdeen to get looked at...again. I took a picture of the dash that showed -25c to let the service manager see just how cold it was. I'm pretty sure December 2009 was the period the temperatures plummeted for 3 days. The local plumber took to phoning customers urging them not to turn the central heating off. He's never done that prior or before in the 13 years I've lived here. It did snow during March 2013 as I remember test driving a Defender in truly horrendous driving conditions. But as March isn't a traditional winter month I didn't include it.

Aberdeen does more poorly for snow in recent times than my location - 25 miles west. From memory and bearing in mind I'm away abroad for parts of winter snowboarding 2016/17 2 days of lying snow so far 2015/16 I didn't see any lying snow but I believe there was 2nd or 3rd week January 2014/15 Nothing 2013/14 Nothing 2012/13 1 day after a bad storm brought power cuts 2011/12 Nothing Before that the only notable winters I remember since I moved here were 2004- close on 2 1/2 feet of drifting snow to the north of the house 2009/10 - Hell, theres no other word for it. Snowed on and off from October until early May( 1st week May2 foot drifts outside the house, ploughs still being used). Snow was on the ground from Nov-March. The paddock was inaccessible, 100cm+. Maximum daytime temperatures never got above -15c during Dec for 3 days at night it was much colder. January 2010, -25c displayed on car temp indicator - Aberdeen was at -19c so plausible. Seriously I could write a book about winter 2009/2010 up here. 2010/11 Decent winter but nothing approaching 2009/10

And I'd wager that the next 3 UK winters for the vast majoirty will also be snowless. I doubt I'd be that far off the mark.

Clear, calm start. Currently 1c with a dusting of snow that fell early morning.

Snow has fallen through the night and settled. Nothing more than a dusting but that takes the snow day tally for this winter to two.

It's not just the UK that's struggling for snow. Denver just had it's third consecutive snowless October, This has never happened before since snow records began in 1882.

Significant downgrade compared to yesterday.

Happy new year everyone! Weather wise 2017 is off to a wintry start, 1c but feeling colder in the northerly wind. Wintry showers at present, snow for the nearby surrounding hills.

Chilly cloudy start with a northerly wind. Wintry showers, falling as snow on the surrounding hills. Currently 1c

I suspect a revision will follow in due course.

Certainly an opinion I'd subscribe to.

I'd suggest the same for NE Scotland. The last 20 years, excluding the winters you make reference to, have generally been dire.

"Snow in places" - UK Mountains

Cloudy, damp, strong gusty S/W wind and very mild again. Currently 12.5c

So much for the UKMO being suspect and the GFS being "Golden"

Sounds superb. Have great and safe time on the hills.

Many thanks Malcolm and Carinthian for taking the time to share your Austrian knowledge and experience, it's much appreciated! I'll check out the resorts you mention tonight, make a decision over the weekend and booking Monday. Thanks again!

Excellent, anything specific planned while you're up or just a relaxing break?

Perhaps the starter ahead of the main course later on? Sadly I'll miss this time frame as I leave for Switzerland or Austria (TBC) on the 7th for a fortnights snowboarding. If the models verify it looks like the Alpine resorts in the north will be very cold. Last January I was boarding around Nendaz where the temperature, with windchill, fell to a frigid -36c. I managed to board (just) for the entire day but it took ages to warm up back at the apartment. Not sure I could tolerate temperatures any lower. Looking forward to reading, hopefully, reports of a proper Scottish winter on this thread while I'm away!

The potential cold weather thats being touted for our shores is now being picked up by the Met: UK Outlook for Saturday 14 Jan 2017 to Saturday 28 Jan 2017: Latest suggestions favour a continuation of a very 'blocked' pattern, with drier and colder than normal conditions across the UK, and an increasing risk of fog and frost. However, we are likely to see brief, milder and wetter conditions at times. Generally, temperatures are expected to be below the average. There is a low risk of very cold conditions developing should the 'blocked' pattern persist, allowing a colder easterly flow to become established, with associated threat of snow in places. Updated at: 1302 on Fri 30 Dec 2016

Thanks for your post Malcolm, as always informative and appreciated. As of this morning a return to Switzerland is being suggested, straight flight to Geneva from Aberdeen on the 7th, then onwards to Sion. However as I've never been to Austria and having seen Carinthians stunning photos and read your thoughts above, I'm very keen to go there. Any recommendation's for a quiet resort for intermediates and above?

Unsure about the BBC ski forecast, I know Sky do something similar. Perhaps have look at the blogger Lance. Based in Bulgaria he posts regular live snow report videos from Bansko, warts and all. Bansko is south of Borovets, couple of hours by car, but might useful for a general overview of day to day conditions. I think he does look aheads as well. http://banskoblog.com

Hi, This from snow-forecast 29th December update: BULGARIA There was cloud and traces of light snow in Bulgaria on Thursday 29th December. It wasn't a powder day but much need fresh snow finally arrived in Bulgaria. The best skiing could be found on the upper slopes. Bansko(20/40cm) remains the pick of our featured resorts in Bulgaria at the moment. Thankfully the snowy trend is set to continue until the end of the year. Borovets (20/90cm) is expecting the most snow with 20cm forecast to land before the weekend. The webcams look great this morning! Looking ahead till next Wednesday, very cold/cold. After that a case of sit tight and see what unfolds.

Meteogroup did send warnings for wind for my area last night which proved correct. I double checked the Met office site to see if they had similar warnings......nothing.

I really hope the models verify for colder conditions, currently sat with the windows and doors open enjoying a nice southerly breeze. 12c