Snow lying (2cm) here in Stornoway since yest (Wed 13th) am - with lightning, thunder and large hail tonight (Thurs 14th). The snow is lying right down to sea-level (in the distance in the photo, perhaps not visible).
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Yest (Wed 13th) was actually colder than today (max +2.5C, min -0.9C), due to lighter winds and mostly clear blue skies promoting strong radiation conditions. Even at the 'peak' of the day the grass thermometer didn't rise above -1C, and was down at -5C or -6C most of the day, meaning the salt/grit on the roads hardly functioned.
Today, there's been more of a NW breeze, bringing in modified marine air (max 3.5C, min -1.0C), so the more frequent showers have brought a mix of snow, hail, rain and sleet - but they are freezing immediately on the surface due to continued subzero surface conditions and an 'ice-bulb' effect (dewpoint/wet bulb temp are subzero). Away from the grit/salt, the snow is white, squeaky and hard-packed.
Actually not even our heaviest fall this winter (there was up to 5cm locally in the town on 29th-30th Nov, but what is REALLY WELCOME this time is the much drier, brighter and lower humidity northerly Arctic airmass (after endless weeks of Altlantic greyness, rain and gales) - precip totals are down to 1-2mm/day at present (compared to a typical 6-8mm/day or more in a maritime polar airmass, and 10-35mm/day for a maritime tropical flow).
Eddie Graham, Stornoway