A fresh amber warning for snow has been issued by the Met Office for large parts of Scotland, with heavy snowfall forecast to impact communities, transport networks, and essential services on Sunday.
The warning is in force from 3am to 2pm on Sunday 11th of January and covers wide areas of the Highlands and Eilean Siar, with 2 to 5cm of snow expected at low levels and 10 to 15cm above 150 metres, rising locally to 20 to 30cm on higher ground.
Forecasters warn that strong winds will lead to drifting snow and blizzard conditions in exposed areas, increasing the risk of travel disruption, vehicles becoming stranded, and some rural communities being cut off.
As the day progresses, snow is expected to turn to sleet and then rain at lower elevations, raising concerns about surface water flooding as lying snow rapidly melts.
Alongside the amber warning, yellow warnings for snow, rain, ice and wind remain in place across much of Scotland into Monday, with 40 to 60mm of rain forecast widely and up to 80 to 110mm possible in parts of Skye, Lochaber, Argyll and the Trossachs.
Wind warnings are also active for the Highlands, Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland, with gusts of 45 to 60mph expected widely and up to 70mph possible along exposed coasts and higher ground.
The Met Office said the combination of snow, heavy rain and strong winds marks a disruptive transition from the prolonged cold spell that has affected Scotland since the start of the year.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Rebekah Hicks said:
“Sunday will see a disruptive spell of weather as the UK transitions into a milder air mass, marking an end to the cold spell we’ve had since the start of the year.
“Parts of the Highlands could see a further 20 to 30cm of snow, coinciding with strong winds, before snow turns to rain later in the day, bringing a risk of flooding and potentially freezing rain which could lead to extremely hazardous conditions.”
The severe weather has prompted a coordinated response across government and emergency services, with Transport Scotland activating its Multi Agency Response Team to monitor conditions and support frontline staff.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:
“This prolonged period of disruptive winter weather is set to continue, with the Met Office forecasting further heavy snowfall in the north of Scotland.
“If you are in the area covered by the amber warning, you should consider delaying journeys if you can and working from home if that is an option.”
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said:
“Local resilience partnerships are continuing to meet to co ordinate and deliver the response to disruption experienced by communities in the north and north east of Scotland following heavy snowfall over the last few days.
“Impacts from heavy snowfall and ice, along with the potential for flooding as temperatures rise, mean that driving conditions may be hazardous, and people should consider if their journey is really necessary.”
The Scottish Government’s Resilience Room has also met to assess the increased flood risk caused by melting snow combined with heavy rainfall in the coming days.
Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance said:
“While progress on recovery continues at pace, I want to thank the public for their patience and understanding that full recovery takes time.”
Transport providers are warning passengers to expect disruption, particularly on rail services, where speed restrictions and cancellations may be required.
ScotRail Service Delivery Director Mark Ilderton said:
“It’s likely that there will be disruption to ScotRail services on some routes, and some journeys may take longer than usual.
“We would urge passengers to check their full journey before they travel, and we’re grateful to customers for their understanding as this period of severe weather continues.”
People across affected areas are being urged to plan ahead, avoid unnecessary travel, prepare for possible power cuts, and check on vulnerable neighbours where it is safe to do so.
With multiple severe weather warnings in place, authorities are stressing the importance of staying informed and following advice from local responders as conditions continue to evolve.
