Police Scotland has issued fresh travel advice after the Met Office confirmed an Amber weather warning for snow across parts of the north and north east of Scotland, with difficult conditions expected to develop from Friday into Saturday.
The Amber warning for heavy and persistent snow will be in place from 12pm on Friday, 2 January until 12pm on Saturday, 3 January, covering Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus, north east Perthshire, Easter Ross and Caithness.
Yellow warnings for snow and ice remain active across other areas including Mull to Montrose, Dundee, Greenock and Kintyre, extending the risk of disruption across a wide part of the country.
Forecasters warn that strong northerly winds combined with snowfall could lead to drifting snow and temporary blizzard conditions, particularly on exposed routes and higher ground.
Police Scotland has advised that the weather may result in travel delays, stranded vehicles, rail and air disruption, power outages and the possibility of some rural communities becoming temporarily cut off.
Chief Superintendent Scott McCarren, Police Scotland’s Head of Road Policing, urged motorists to think carefully before setting off.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Road users are being encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel, ensure vehicles are winter-ready, carry warm clothing, food and water, and keep mobile phones fully charged.
Drivers are also reminded not to ignore road closure signs, as congestion caused by stranded vehicles can restrict access for emergency and recovery services.
People are advised to stay informed by monitoring local authority updates, listening to traffic and weather broadcasts, and checking live information from Traffic Scotland and the Met Office before travelling.
In the event of a power cut, residents can call 105 free of charge to report or receive updates, while issues with water supply can be reported to Scottish Water on 0800 0778 778.
Flood alerts and warnings are available via the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, with further public safety guidance also accessible through Ready Scotland and Traveline Scotland.
