Hundreds of schools across northern Scotland will remain closed for a second consecutive day as severe weather warnings for snow and ice continue to cause widespread disruption. The Met Office has escalated its alert to an amber warning for significant parts of the region, forecasting heavy snowfall and hazardous conditions.
Amber Warning Sparks Further Closures and Travel Chaos
The Met Office's amber warning for snow is active from 11am until 7pm on Tuesday, covering large swathes of north-east and northern Scotland. Forecasters predict widespread accumulations of five to 10 centimetres, with up to 15 centimetres possible in some areas, particularly above 200 metres.
This has led to the continued closure of schools in Shetland, Orkney, and Aberdeenshire, extending the festive break for pupils after an initial shutdown on Monday. A broader yellow warning for snow and ice remains in place from Perth northwards until midnight on Tuesday, and another yellow warning stretches from Scotland's central belt down into northern England until 11am.
Transport Networks Paralyzed by Winter Weather
The disruptive conditions have severely impacted travel across the country. On Monday, road, rail, and air services faced significant challenges:
- Rail: National Rail has confirmed that train services in northern Scotland will be disrupted until the end of Tuesday. Some lines were blocked by snow drifts, though ScotRail intends to run services between Aberdeen and Dundee in the morning.
- Roads: Key routes, including the A939 between Tomintoul and Cockbridge in Banffshire, remain closed by 'snow gates'. The A171 in North Yorkshire was also shut after a collision in snowy conditions.
- Air: Loganair cancelled multiple flights from Aberdeen, Inverness, Sumburgh (Shetland), and Kirkwall (Orkney) airports on Monday.
Further Disruption Forecast for the Week Ahead
The weather system is expected to bring further complications later in the week. The Met Office warns that an Atlantic low-pressure system meeting an Arctic airmass could bring disruptive snow, wind, and rain to parts of southern England.
Parts of southern England may see snow on higher ground on Thursday and Friday, while northern and central areas could face further snowfall, accompanied by rain and strong winds, depending on the exact path of the weather front.
The areas under the most severe amber alert include parts of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Angus, and Perth and Kinross. Residents are advised to avoid travel unless essential and to stay updated with the latest forecasts and travel advice as the winter weather continues to grip the nation.
