THURSDAY 30th DECEMBER---EVENING UPDATE

I escaped the mist & murk of Pitlochry this afternoon & ended up at the Falls of Bruar. Conditions under foot were treacherous, but the delights of seeing the spectacular ice accumulations on the river & at the falls certainly made the walk worthwhile. What a pity I didn't take a camera!   Incidentally, much of the high ground was above the mist & enjoying broken cloud.

UPDATE @ 1700Hrs
Once again, very disappointing, with the mist & murk very persistent around the town, but not on the hills. The maximum temperature was only +1.9 & the current temperature + 0.6--( & this is supposed to be a MILD interlude!)

THIS EVENING & TONIGHT
Still mist around, but the cloud above the mist is well broken & will allow temperatures to fall. So a lttle colder than last night, with a likely minimum of around -2. Icy patches likely on roads & pavements.

FURTHER OUTLOOK
Dry & brighter on Friday. A dry, bright & cold start to 2011.

DECEMBER 1981 was the coldest December in Pitlochry’s records. The average maximum temperature that month was + 1.9, while the average minimum was -5.4. So far this December, we are COLDER than this record month. However, although 1981 was overall the coldest December on record, 1995 actually had the coldest day (-10.5 max.) & the coldest night (-18.2 min). There appears every likelihood that December 2010 will remain cold & topple the record held by 1981.

THIS MORNING'S READINGS
The only online weather service using data recorded in Pitlochry. The data presented below comes from standard Met Office equipment however I also make use of an Automatic Weather Station.

Temperature at obs. Time today 0900	0.3
Maximum Temperature (last 24hrs)	2.1
Minimum Temperature (last 24hrs)	-0.1
Grass Minimum Temperature (last 24hrs)	-0.5
Rainfall Total (last 24hrs)	0.6 mms
Barometer  at  observation time today	1024mbs
Wind at observation time today	NE1
This month’s highest temperature to date	8.1 (11th)
This month’s lowest temperature to date	-15.7 (3rd)
This month’s highest 24hr rainfall total to date	12.4 (26th)
This month’s total rainfall to date	27.0 mms

AVERAGES & EXTREMES DECEMBER

Average Max. Temperature	5.7
Average Min. Temperature	-0.3
Record High Temperature	5.7
Record Low Temperature	-18.2
Long Term Average Rainfall	92.22
Wettest Month	193 (1959)
Driest Month	24 (1975)