Environment

TEMPERATURES in the northern Highlands have plunged to a frigid -22C amid warnings from police to avoid unnecessary travel.

THE coldest UK temperature for a decade has already been surpassed just hours later – with the mercury falling in one Highland spot to -18.8C by 9pm.

AREAS without snow have been left "tinder dry" and pose an "extreme" risk of wildfire, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has warned.

A weather system dubbed Ivan the Terrible has blown in from southern Russia to 'savage Caithness'.

Wick John O'Groats Airport shared spectacular images and video footage yesterday as specialist vehicles cleared the runway of snow.

Huge swathes of the Highlands have been affected by freezing temperatures with the Met Office issuing a Yellow Warning for more more snow to come.

A young Halkirk woman returned to the scene of a 'scary' incident on the A882 to highlight a major pothole problem.

Highland Council's road report this morning warned of substantial amounts of snow lying in the far north.

Highland Council agreed to distribute distribute an additional £20m as part of a road maintenance programme, at a meeting on Thursday.

The Scottish SPCA has issued guidance on caring for wildlife during cold weather.

PICTURES: A section of footpath near the 860-year-old Castle of Old Wick has become "a complete disaster" following an apparent act of fly-tipping.

Volunteers and local businesses in Halkirk have been helping with meals for the elderly, vulnerable, and local kids and keeping streets clear of ice.

A new one-hour Highland adventure documentary will be released soon by Caithness explorer and filmmaker Ashley Cowie.

AN AMBER snow warning has been issued for swathes of the Highlands, after the Met Office upgraded existing alerts.

The cordoned off sites at each end of Wick's High Street will soon benefit from a temporary makeover in the shape of artistic murals.

SNOW warnings are now in place across parts of the Highlands until Sunday afternoon – after the Met Office revised and extended existing alerts.

Peatland restoration projects in the Flow Country as well as other locations around Scotland are being celebrated as part of World Wetlands Day.

The landslide affected road in Wick has reopened but the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice in Caithness.

HIGHLANDERS are gearing up for yet more snowfalls this week – with no fewer than three yellow warnings issued for parts of the region.

A Caithness primary school is one of three in the Highlands selected to receive grant aid from an environmental charity to help them tackle litter.