An amber weather warning for snow has been issued for parts of the north and north east of Scotland, with heavy snowfall, drifting and possible blizzard conditions forecast from Friday into Saturday.
The Met Office warning covers large parts of the Highlands and Eilean Siar between 12pm on Friday 2 January and 12pm on Saturday 3 January, during what forecasters describe as the most disruptive period of the current cold spell.
Snow showers are expected to become more frequent and prolonged, with further accumulations of 10–20cm likely at low levels and 30–40cm possible on higher ground.
Strong northerly winds are forecast to accompany the snowfall, increasing the risk of drifting snow and temporary blizzard conditions, particularly across exposed routes.
The Met Office has warned that travel delays are likely, with some road, rail and air disruption expected, alongside the risk that rural communities could become temporarily cut off.
Power cuts are also considered likely, with potential impacts on mobile phone coverage and other essential services in more remote areas.
Police Scotland has urged motorists to plan ahead and carefully consider whether journeys are necessary while the amber warning remains in place.
The current forecast suggests that major routes including the A9 north of Inverness, the A835 and A87, the A95, the A96 and the A90 including the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route may all be affected by heavy snow and drifting.
The amber warning indicates a higher likelihood of impacts from severe weather, meaning people should be prepared to change plans and take action to protect themselves and their property.
A Multi-Agency Response Team will be operational throughout the warning period to monitor conditions, coordinate responses and support local resilience efforts.
Operating companies have deployed additional resources, activated dedicated snow plans for specific routes and remain ready to provide mutual aid if required.
Transport Scotland chaired a coordination call on 31 December involving operating companies, the Met Office, Traffic Scotland, Police Scotland, ScotRail and Network Rail to ensure preparations were in place.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:
“Some very challenging weather and freezing temperatures are being forecast for the next few days and into the weekend.
“We would urge people to listen to Police Scotland travel advice and check with their operator.
“The Traffic Scotland website gives people access to the latest information on the trunk road network and Traffic Scotland social media channels are updated regularly so you can check if your route is available.
“There may also be disruption on other modes of transport, so please check with your operator before setting off.”
Chief Superintendent Scott McCarren, Police Scotland’s Head of Road Policing, said:
“Our advice is to plan ahead and consider if your journey is really necessary during the bad weather or if it can be delayed until conditions improve.
“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.”
The Met Office has advised people to stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings, as conditions and affected areas may change quickly over the coming days.
