A severe and bitter cold snap has tightened its grip on the United Kingdom, with weather warnings upgraded and extended as heavy snow and icy conditions are forecast to persist through the weekend and into next week.
Amber Warnings and Widespread Disruption
The Met Office has issued a series of alerts, with the most serious being amber warnings for heavy snow showers across northern Scotland, including Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, and the Highlands. These are active until midday on Saturday. Forecasters warn that 10-20cm of snow is likely at low levels, with 30-40cm possible on high ground, accompanied by winds that could lead to temporary blizzard conditions.
The impact is already being felt. By Friday morning, Loch Glascarnoch in the Scottish Highlands had over 8cm of lying snow, while Aboyne in Aberdeenshire recorded around 9cm. Traffic Scotland confirmed the closure of several key snow gates, including those on the A93 Braemar-Glenshee and A939 Tomintoul-Cockbridge roads, halting travel in these areas. Highland Council reported vehicles becoming stuck on ice in tourist spots.
National Impact and Transport Chaos
The freezing weather is not confined to Scotland. A blanket of snow covered parts of England, including Warwickshire and Kent, as 2026 began with a wintry start. Yellow warnings for snow and ice are in place for most of Wales, the southwest of England, and, from 3pm Friday, across much of Northern Ireland until Monday midday.
The public is being urged to prepare for significant travel disruption over the coming days. The Met Office states that delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely, alongside possible power cuts and treacherous road conditions. 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."
Health Alert and Extended Forecast
Adding to the concerns, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber cold-health alert for all regions of England until 10am on 9 January. This indicates that the weather is "likely" to cause significant impacts on health and social care services, including a potential rise in mortality among vulnerable groups.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Rebekah Hicks explained the situation: "Arctic air and brisk northerly winds are gripping the UK... 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." She urged the public to stay #WeatherAware and plan ahead for icy conditions.
