Highland village records 'coldest September temperature for 20 years'; mercury fell to -5C in Altnaharra, Sutherland, last night, as temperatures fell below -2C widely across the Highlands in rural locations

A HIGHLAND village is once again living up to it moniker as the coldest spot in the UK after the mercury plunged last night.

The temperature fell to roughly -5C in Altnaharra in Sutherland last night – making it one of the coldest September nights reported in Scotland for more than 20 years.

BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor, who is also a former senior operational meteorologist at the Met Office, confirmed the news on Twitter this morning.

Of course, -5C is nothing unusual in winter in Altnaharra, which holds the record for the coldest temperature ever documented in the UK. On December 30, 1995, the mercury plunged to an Arctic -27.2C (-17F).

Altnaharra wasn't the only slightly chilly place in the Highlands last night, with the likes of Carrbridge, Drumochter, Corrimony (west of Drumnadrochit), Strath Garve, Tomatin and Newtonmore among the numerous places where temperatures fell below -2C.

But, with the weather set fair, and a sunny day forecast in many Highland spots, the mercury is already rising.

Chilly night-time conditions are expected to persist into the weekend however, with northerly winds expected to keep temperatures lower despite plenty of sunshine in the forecast.

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