Arctic air brings snow to Scotland - five days after warmest day

Snow has been falling over parts of Scotland - five days after the country recorded its warmest day of the year so far.

Nethy Bridge in the Highlands and Braemar in Aberdeenshire were among the places to have snow.

Forecasters said a "plunge" of Arctic air was influencing the weather this week.

Last week, a temperature above 20C was recorded at Fyvie in Aberdeenshire.

BBC Scotland weather presenter Kirsteen Macdonald said Scotland's weather had seen some big contrasts recently.

She said: "We recorded our warmest day of the year so far a mere five days ago, with Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire, reaching 20.2C with glorious sunshine and high pressure influencing conditions.

"This week is very different. Low pressure-driven weather took us in to the new week, anchored to the north.

"It then pulled away to the east, with a frontal system moving away southwards, opening the floodgates to a cold Arctic plunge of air."

Kirsteen said showers and cold air were a "perfect recipe" for sleet and snow.

She added: "Snow isn't unusual though at this time of the year.

"Spring is a transition season, with big swings at times between warm and cold weather, as well as dry and wet fare."

The rest of this week will be changeable and at times unsettled.

Rain as well as drier, brighter interludes and cold air have been forecast.