Heavy snowfalls forecast for Scotland, with up to 10cm more falling in Highlands

Published on Monday 4 January 2010 21:40

THOUSANDS of motorists, leaving home today for the first time since the festive holidays, face a daunting combination of ungritted roads, heavy snowfalls and sub-zero temperatures in their battle to get to work.

Scottish Borders Council has already announced that all 74 schools in the area will remain closed this morning because of the threat of further snowfalls affecting already treacherous routes.

All schools in Lewis and Harris and two primaries in Aberdeenshire will remain shut today, as pupils at other schools in the region return to their classes for the first time since the start of the Christmas break.

A Met Office spokeswoman warned that after a widespread overnight frost, heavy snowfalls were expected to sweep the country. She said: "There is a weather warning for the whole of Scotland for heavy snow and icy roads.

"Much of the country could see 5cm of snow overnight and, in the morning, northern parts of the Highlands, Grampian and Moray will be experiencing heavy snowfalls, with accumulations up to another 10cm in some places on higher ground."

Overnight temperatures in Dumfries and Galloway plunged to -14C, the coldest level recorded since December 1995.