A severe and bitter cold snap is tightening its grip on the United Kingdom, with the Met Office upgrading weather warnings as heavy snow and icy conditions are forecast to dominate the weekend. The Arctic outbreak is expected to cause significant disruption to transport and daily life across the nation.
Warnings Upgraded as Snow Accumulates
The Met Office has extended a series of yellow alerts for snow and ice across much of the country into Monday, 5 January 2026. Crucially, amber snow warnings are now in force for parts of northern Scotland, including Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, and the Highlands, until midday on Saturday.
Substantial accumulations have already been recorded. On Friday morning, Loch Glascarnoch in the Scottish Highlands saw in excess of 8cm of lying snow, while Aboyne in Aberdeenshire had around 9cm. The forecaster warns that low levels could see 10-20cm, with a staggering 30-40cm possible on higher ground, accompanied by winds that may lead to temporary blizzard conditions.
Widespread Travel Disruption and Hazards
The icy conditions are already causing major problems on the roads. Traffic Scotland confirmed the closure of several key snow gates on Friday morning, including those on the A93 Braemar-Glenshee and A939 Tomintoul-Cockbridge, effectively halting travel. Highland Council reported vehicles, including campervans, stuck on ice in tourist areas and urged extreme caution.
The Met Office states that delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely, alongside possible power cuts. Police Scotland's head of road policing, Chief Superintendent Scott McCarren, issued a stern warning: "Please don't drive through road closures, the decision to close roads is not taken lightly and is done for public safety."
Beyond Scotland, a yellow weather alert for snow and ice covers most of Wales, while the southwest of England and much of Northern Ireland are under ice warnings. The east coast of England is bracing for blizzardy conditions on Saturday and Monday.
Prolonged Freeze and Health Alert Issued
Met Office chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks confirmed the severity of the situation: "Bitterly cold conditions will persist through the weekend and into next week, with daytime temperatures struggling to rise above freezing for some, and overnight lows dipping to minus double figures in places."
In response to the prolonged freeze, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber cold-health alert for all of England, lasting until 10am on 9 January. This signifies that the weather is likely to have significant impacts on health and social care, with an increased risk of fatalities among the vulnerable, including those aged 65 and over or with pre-existing health conditions.
Authorities are urging the public to stay #WeatherAware, plan journeys carefully, and check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours as the UK endures a fiercely cold start to 2026.
