scotland temperature extremes
© HEMEDIATemperatures in Aviemore plummeted to just 1C on Tuesday night leaving the mountain village shrouded in mist on Wednesday morning. Above, ducks swim on Loch Morlich
  • Temperatures in Aviemore plummeted to near freezing on Tuesday night
  • Climbed to 21C on Wednesday morning - hotter than Rome and Paris
  • Met Office spokesman said difference was due to high pressure in the air
  • Weekend should stay fine and dry with temperatures dropping next week
The Scottish weather showed its unpredictability yesterday as one Highland village was declared both the hottest and coldest place in the UK. Temperatures in Aviemore plummeted to just 1C on Tuesday night leaving the popular ski resort shrouded in mist on Wednesday morning. But the chill didn't stay for long as by lunchtime the village saw temperatures reach 21C - hotter than Barcelona, Rome and Paris.

The Scottish weather showed its unpredictability yesterday with one Highland town declared both the hottest and coldest place in the UK. Above, Maja Aas relaxes in the warm autumn sunshine on a beach on the shores of Loch Morlich

Claire Smith, 35, the manager of the Mountain Cafe in Aviemore, said it was as if autumn had been skipped altogether.

She said: 'It was incredibly chilly coming in the morning with a coat, scarf and gloves on. You could see the grass glistening and frost appearing on cars.

'But I have to carry all my clothes home later on because it will be far too warm. 'It's been really strange here because we're having a bit of an Indian summer but starting our day with winter - it's as if we've skipped autumn completely.

The average temperature in Scotland is predicted to be 11C until next Tuesday and will be up to four degrees warmer during daylight hours

Maja Aas, 19, a student on a school trip from Norway, had packed her luggage in preparation for a cold winter. But, after seeing the sun shining, the student headed to the beach at nearby Loch Morlich to bask in the sun.

She said: 'Everyone was telling me that Scotland was really rainy and cold in Scotland at this time of year so that's what I packed for.
'I'd brought my rain coat and warm sweatshirts but I don't think that was necessary.'It's really nice and beautiful here so we're just hanging out on the beach now.'

The average temperature in Scotland is predicted to be 11C until next Tuesday and will be up to four degrees warmer during daylight hours.

But morning commuters across the central belt were hit by a very thick fog which was caused by the UK being a very high pressure area.
A Met Office spokesman said the high air pressure over the UK was causing the temperatures in mountain towns to fluctuate dramatically.

She said: 'The extreme differences in temperatures in high up towns such as Aviemore and Braemar in recent days can be explained by the very high pressure in the air over the UK. 'High pressure causes a temperature inversion at altitude which means that while we would normally expect places like Aviemore to be colder, when there is high pressure the temperature will rise and go against normal atmospheric conditions.

'And at night, when the sun goes away, this temperature inversion reverts back to normal and gets colder.'

Braemar in the Highlands was the second hottest town in the UK yesterday at 19.5C and Drumnadrochit, Highlands, at 19.5C.