The lowest recorded temperature of the 2010 cold spell was recorded last night in Altnaharra, in the Scottish Highlands, where the levels dropped to -21.6C, almost on a par with the South Pole, where it is currently -22.9C. Altnaharra jointly holds the record for the lowest ever temperature recorded in the UK; -27.2C on 30 December 1995. The previous low this winter was -18C, also in Scotland, recorded the previous night and on 29 December.