Weather warnings extended as Scotland hit by more heavy snow
Schools close and transport disrupted as more than half a metre falls in some places
Fresh weather warnings were issued as hundreds of schools in northern Scotland were shut on Monday and travel was disrupted because of heavy snow.
A yellow warning of snow and ice which covered the country as far south as Perth until the end of Monday were extended until midnight on Tuesday.
The Met Office also issued a yellow warning of snow and ice for the country from the Central Belt southwards down beyond the border which is valid until 11am on January 6.
Pupils enjoyed an unexpected extra day of holiday at schools in Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles and Aberdeenshire while dozens in Moray were also shut as a result of the weather conditions. At Tomintoul, in Moray, the Met Office recorded 52cm of snow.
In Aberdeen city, dozens of schools were closed for the day after opening was initially delayed until 11am.
The weather disrupted rail travel with the Inverness to Wick/Thurso, Inverness to Kyle, Inverness to Aberdeen and Aberdeen to Dundee lines shut after heavy snow drifts on the tracks.
Network Rail Scotland said multiple snowploughs were deployed across the affected lines, where specialist teams were working to remove snow and ice from key routes and restore services.
Gary Hopkirk, route programme director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “Deep snow can pose a serious risk to the railway, and when snow depth exceeds 30cm, trains can’t run safely unless fitted with snow ploughs.
“Our teams are working as hard as they can, however, in some parts the snowdrifts are forming as quickly as we’re clearing them.
“We’ll only reopen lines and return to normal operations once we’re confident it’s safe to do so. We appreciate the patience of passengers while we manage the impact of this heavy snowfall.”
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail said the majority of the ScotRail network remains open despite the “challenging” weather conditions in the north of the country.
He said: “The Met Office yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been extended until Tuesday, 6 January, covering the entire country.
“Conditions can change quickly, so we’d encourage customers to plan ahead and check their journey before travelling.”
Some flights have also been disrupted by the weather conditions.
Loganair cancelled flights from Aberdeen and Inverness airports following heavy snowfall, while a number of flights to and from Sumburgh Airport in Shetland were cancelled as were several departures from Kirkwall Airport in Orkney.
A Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) spokesman said: “Forecasted adverse weather may impact flight schedules across Scotland. Please contact your airline for the latest flight information before travelling.”
On the roads motorists faced difficult driving conditions.
The A90 was closed between Goval and Craibstone at Bogenjoss because of weather conditions, while snow gates were closed on the A939 between Cock Bridge and Tomintoul.
Infrastructure firm Amey said all 27 trunk routes in the south west of the country would receive “double salt treatments” at 1pm and 1am throughout most of the week, while all 15 patrol gritters will remain on the network continuously.
In the yellow alert area, forecasters predicted that Grampian, the north-west Highlands and Aberdeenshire would see the most frequent snow showers on Monday, with 5-10cm likely fairly widely and a few places seeing 20-30cm.
On Tuesday forecasters predict that a further 2-5cm of snow is likely to fall fairly widely, with the possibility of a further 10-15cm in some areas.
From the central belt southwards forecasters predict an area of “mainly light snow” with most places likely to see no more than 1-2cm.
A Met Office amber warning of heavy snow showers covering Shetland, Orkney and parts of the Highlands and Aberdeenshire expired at 10am on Monday.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell, of Police Scotland, said: “The forecasted heavy snow showers and ice means driving conditions are likely to be hazardous in some areas.
“Our advice is to plan ahead and consider if your journey is really necessary during the weather warnings.
“We continue to work with partners to help our communities impacted by the adverse weather.
“If you need to travel, please drive to the conditions, be prepared for delays and allow extra time for your journey.
“Please don’t drive through road closures, the decision to close roads is not taken lightly and is done for public safety.”
Speaking to the BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said: “It is tough for people in the north-east of Scotland and the Highlands and islands as a consequence of what has been an acute period of snowy weather over the last few days.
“There is a very substantial operation in place to make sure transport networks are able to function, and on road and rail there has been extensive work undertaken.”
Scotland’s Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop urged people to follow advice from authorities.
She said: “We’ve already seen challenging conditions and freezing temperatures, with more snow and ice on the way for the same areas.
“Of course, for many, Monday marks a return to work from the festive break. If you have to travel then please ensure your vehicle is winter ready and have a winter kit in your car.”
Met Office chief meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, said: “The UK will continue to experience a range of winter weather hazards through this week, with low temperatures as well as snow showers and the risk of ice for many.
“A number of severe weather warnings have been issued and these are likely to be updated through the week so do keep up to date with the forecast.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.