Another hard cold winter forecast for Highlands

Skiers and boarders might be happy, but those who don’t like the snow should look away now.

Another hard, cold winter – the fourth in five years – is being predicted for the Highlands and other parts of Scotland.

Online weather forecasters Exacta Weather have told the ‘Strathy’ that they expect winter to start early, be exceptionally cold and very snowy.

Their UK forecaster, James Madden, said: "Our forecast also indicates that November could turn out to be a record-breaking month with regard to major snow and cold episodes."

High winds could also be a problem.

The forecast states that the first significant snowfall is more likely throughout the period of November 23 to 30, but cannot be ruled out before that.

Temperatures as low as -20º and below are forecast to continue throughout December, January and February, with potentially record-breaking lows in parts of Scotland.

Heavy snowfalls are predicted to continue, and Exacta Weather is also forecasting a white Christmas.

Their report states: "The risk of snowfall will remain with much of the country throughout the month, but especially throughout the period of December 23 to December 31."

For the first month of the new year, the forecasters believes that a scenario "similar to December 2010 or worse is plausible".

Exacta Weather correctly forecast the record highs of July this summer and that the hot weather would tail off from there.