Arctic air brings snow to Scotland's mountain tops

Peter Jolly/Northpix A mountain ranger dressed in winter jacket, hat and boots walking through snow. There is a snow covered sign and wooden fencePeter Jolly/Northpix
Mountain ranger Ruari Macdonald in snow at CairnGorm Mountain ski centre near Aviemore on Wednesday

Some of Scotland's highest mountains have had the first autumn dusting of snow.

The Cairngorms, Glen Coe and Lochaber have been among upland areas to see wintry showers.

Strong north-westerly winds have brought colder air from the Arctic across the UK.

BBC Weather said snow over Scottish mountains was not uncommon in September during the transition into the colder winter months.

stoneyfrog/BBC Weather Watchers Snow on the mountain Ben Wyvisstoneyfrog/BBC Weather Watchers
A picture taken from Dingwall of snow on Ben Wyvis
Winterhighland A dusting of snow on higher slopes with Glencoe Mountain ski centre's tows and buildingsWinterhighland
A dusting of snow on higher slopes in Glen Coe
Cairngorm Mountain/Ruari Macdonald Snow on the hills in the CairngormsCairngorm Mountain/Ruari Macdonald
A dusting of snow in the Cairngorms

Nights are expected to feel chilly and rural areas could have ground frost.

BBC Weather said by Friday and into the weekend, there would be another change in wind direction to a south-westerly.

It added that this wind direction tended to bring in more seasonally average temperatures - around 16 to 20C for mid-September.

Cairngorm Mountain/Ruari Macdonald A snow covered sign Cairngorm Mountain/Ruari Macdonald
A snow-covered sign at Cairngorm Mountain
Cairngorm Mountain/Angus Trinder Cairngorm Mountain ski centre with a snow-covered hillCairngorm Mountain/Angus Trinder
Winds have brought Arctic air to Scotland and the rest of the UK
Cairngorm Mountain/Angus Trinder Reindeer grazing under a ski liftCairngorm Mountain/Angus Trinder
Reindeer grazing under a ski lift at Cairngorm Mountain