Scotland weather: Met Office in fresh ice hazard warning

Fresh warnings for ice have been issued for parts of Scotland as the cold snap continues to make conditions tricky for drivers and pedestrians.
A lurcher romps in the snow near Peebles. Forecasters warn that rain today may turn to ice on frozen ground. Photograph: Ian GeorgesonA lurcher romps in the snow near Peebles. Forecasters warn that rain today may turn to ice on frozen ground. Photograph: Ian Georgeson
A lurcher romps in the snow near Peebles. Forecasters warn that rain today may turn to ice on frozen ground. Photograph: Ian Georgeson

The Met Office’s yellow “be aware” warning covers much of Scotland, particularly in the east, from 6pm last night until 10:30am today.

It comes after people woke up to a widespread frost yesterday morning.

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Police and health officials in the east warned that recent adverse weather conditions had led to a number of road collisions and a spike in the number of injuries caused by people slipping and falling.

Police in Dumfries and Galloway have tweeted to urge people to drive with care, as they posted a picture of a gritter that had apparently come off the road on the A76 north of Sanquhar.

The new warning from the Met Office states: “Icy patches will be a hazard on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths. Some injuries are possible from slips and falls on icy surfaces.”

It also covers parts of northern England, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Wales.

The Met Office’s chief forecaster wrote: “Temperatures will fall
 below freezing across much of the area, allowing a frost and some icy patches to develop.

“Outbreaks of rain will spread eastwards during Sunday morning, with some of this rain possibly falling on to surfaces that will still be below freezing, thus increasing the risk of ice for a few hours.”

On Friday, the B976 Crathie to Gairnsheil road in Aberdeenshire was closed due to drifting snow.

Police in Aberdeen advised motorists to avoid driving unless it was absolutely necessary, saying the “treacherous” conditions had resulted in “multiple road traffic collisions” throughout Friday.

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NHS Tayside said it has been experiencing exceptional demand in the last few days, with the widespread icy conditions across the region resulting in “a sharp increase in the number of slip and trip injuries”.