Northernlights

Frosty start to day at -4c but with clear blue skies Lots of tractors round here trying to take advantage of dryer weather but always managing to find a wet spot in a field where they get stuck patience needed, Managed to get a spring store of neeps up in the last week. Still potentially two and a half months of winter feeding to get through.Snow showeracross the Firth yesterday.

⅞Wintry showers to west this morning nn

Hairy Celt yes just the same here after a perfect drying afternoon when we have been able to lift neeps all day as the ground got dryer and dryer on the surface only to be halted by violent torrential rain and wind in the last half hour.

Fine mild sunny breezy morning after yesterdays rain. First day too that you could feel some warmth in the sun when shifting electric fence in neep field. However ground is just as wet as its ever been. Currently 11c

Kayemill We have a similar ford only thing is it consists mostly of slurry washed off the field sticks like glue to the car and smells awful this from a farmer quite happy with the smell of dung (Cow poo mixed with bedding straw)

Quinach Certainly does not seem dry here with a very wet morning clearing a bit this afternoon. soils here are saturated . I have never seen such a prolonged period in winter with such damp humid weather. By now we are usually starting to see the odd dryer day. The east coast of Scotland has really seen some rain this winter. I wonder if the Hunga Tonga volcano has finally had an effect on the weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere particularly with regard to the huge amounts of water blasted into and beyond the upper atmosphere. How the Tonga Hunga volcano produced the most intense lightning ever seen WWW.BBC.COM The eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai produced one of the most extreme lightning storms ever and it has given scientists a unique glimpse into the volcano's secrets. Even the waterlogged banks of the tarred roads can trap cars that venture onto them.

Miserable morning light rain misty and dark. One of the most prolonged wet winters I can remember. On another cheerful note price of wheat has halved in the last 18 months, Where are the adverts showing the falling price of bread?

Hairy Celt Hairy Celt Many decades ago I was told there was a condition of remaining a landlord of Ben Wyvis that the owner had to supply a bucket of snow to the King on any day of the year. Currently the weather is awful got one cattle fold emptied of dung in the dry yesterday but its been wet again overnight. Stories going of farmers going from field to field locally looking for dry areas to plough. Desperately needing it to dry up. A cold wet spring would be a disaster for UK agriculture with no extra capacity in the system at all. A bit milder this morning at 5c

Another cold day with a fresh west wind ground frost in the morning which lay all day .in the shade. Ground has lost of surface water. Currently 3c.

After a very pleasant day yesterday getting with some outside jobs in garden and on farm today dawned bright with a ground frost at 1c. All downhill from here on with wind getting and squally showers by late afternoon. Maximum temperature 7c but much cooler this evening Lots of snow still on higher hills round Firth.Its beginning to look like Scottish skiers will get snow for the spring.

Insanely cold strong east wind all day with flurries of snow sleet and hail. Top temperature of 3c currently 1c

Fascinating to watch the high cloud to the south encroaching with the snow showers to the north move the opposite way coming in on what became an east wind leading to small snow showers coming in from the east overland with one at teatime leaving a dusting. From what I can see there must be a bit of a battle going on between the cold air to the north and the milder air to the south. Currently moderate east wind clear and -1c with a top temperature of 1c this afternoon.

Some photos from around the Firth yesterday including one of a frosty sunset. Frosty sunset

-5c start to the day snow showers to the north east over North Sea and frontal cloud approaching from SW. Will try to post some ph0tos from yesterday later. As far as skiing is concerned Spring is King on Scottish Mountains which means if they get a big storm at the end of February they could have good skiing till the beginning of May.

Concur with above some very sleety showers strong wind and high windchill. Absolutely perishing but cows managed to trudge through mud to neeps. Snow building up on hills above 200m all round the Firth so a very wintry looking scene

Much better start to the day at 2c with a ground frost. Strong NW wind driving in snow showers across the Firth towards us

Just to confirm rivers here are at tops of banks. Forestry operations have blocked ditches on farm and public roads so lots of mechanical activity digging channels. Council jetter coming to culvert at end of farm road blocked by forestry debris. Estate forester looking hassled as water started to undermine tar. Lochs in every field Massive soil erosion in lifted tattie fields with 3 to 4 feet gully erosion. Currently calm and 4c

Wild wet and windy here again this morning Glad we got 90% of hay deliveries done yesterday. Colder air seems to getting into Shetland tonight with a few wintry flurries but its currently 7c here

Another very windy day. Sunny and mild but humid so not a lot of drying going on. Same sentiments as above frosty calm dry weather would be very welcome. Was up to 12 c in the afternoon.

Its an age thing !!!!!!

Proper snow shower on just now.

Much calmer now but temperature now 2c and odd bits of wet snow..what a day of contrasts. Wintry looking sunset just now

Worst windstorm of the winter today. I was blown over by one big gust Big spruce left uncut because thought to near power lines downed by wind this morning blocking farm road Just hit fence and dyke. Another bill for reinstatement. Lots of exposed trees in partially cut wood being blown down or snapped with a sound like a shotgun Harvester and forestry squad cleared tree off farm round within an hour after it fell. Taken out in sections branches removed in wood so little mess in grass field. Rain on now so neep lifting stopped but managed a nice little store in.

Worst windstorm of the winter here blown off my feet this morning Going inside now for the day

No it won"t hoping to lift neeps tomorrow .If we can just get s few loads before it comes along that will do