Yellow warnings for snow and ice remain in place across large parts of the UK, with northern Scotland experiencing the worst conditions as Arctic air brings severe winter weather into the new year. Up to 40 centimetres of snow has already fallen in Scotland, causing major travel disruption on roads and railways, with forecasts predicting accumulations could reach 60 centimetres in some areas by mid-January.
The Met Office has issued amber warnings for parts of northern Scotland until noon on Saturday, with yellow warnings covering nearly all of Scotland above Edinburgh and Glasgow, all of Northern Ireland, and portions of England and Wales until Monday midday. Temperatures plunged to nearly -6C at Loch Ness on Friday night, with daytime temperatures expected to remain in low single figures across much of the country.
Travel Chaos Across Scotland
ScotRail announced multiple train cancellations on Saturday morning, including services to Wick and Inverness. Network Rail Scotland reported around 20 centimetres of snow accumulation on some northern lines, with strong winds creating drifting snow that closed the northbound line at Laurencekirk between Aberdeen and Laurencekirk.
The rail infrastructure operator posted on X on Saturday afternoon: «Strong winds between Aberdeen and Laurencekirk are causing the drifting snow that's closed the northbound line at Laurencekirk. One of our snowplough locomotives is on the way to clear and reopen the line. We've seen in the last hour the heaviest snow over the Aberdeen – Laurencekirk area, and Aberdeen – Inverness lines, in particular between Inverurie and Keith. Those areas will continue to see snow persist, likely getting heavier too.»
LNER reported major disruption to services north of Dundee, with effects expected to continue into Sunday afternoon. Avanti West Coast faced blocked lines to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh due to overrunning engineering work between Carlisle and Lockerbie. Roads in north-east Scotland, including the A90 between Brechin and Stonehaven, were shut due to snow drifts. Police in Orkney strongly advised against travelling, while police in Badenoch and Strathspey advised against all but essential travel.
Extended Cold Spell Forecast
Rebekah Hicks, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, warned of prolonged wintry conditions: «Arctic air and brisk northerly winds are gripping the UK as we start the new year. Snow and ice warnings remain in force for many areas, with the risk of heavy snow showers, especially across northern Scotland and over higher ground elsewhere, though many inland areas will stay largely sunny and clear. Bitterly cold conditions will persist through the weekend and into next week, with daytime temperatures struggling to rise above freezing for some, and overnight lows dipping to minus double figures in places. We urge people to stay #WeatherAware, keep up to date with the forecasts and plan ahead as icy roads and slippery surfaces are likely.»
Long-range forecasts suggest the deepest snow will accumulate in the Lake District, Pennine Hills, Northern Wales, and Yorkshire Dales, with the Arkengarthdale area of North Yorkshire potentially seeing drifts of more than 23 inches by Thursday, January 15. The Met Office warned of potential cut-off rural communities and a risk of power cuts, with strong winds in Scotland creating temporary blizzard conditions.
Health Warnings for Vulnerable Groups
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, issued health advice for the cold snap: «As the colder weather sets in, it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.» He warned: «The forecast temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.»
The Met Office expects snow showers to continue through the weekend before finally beginning to ease during Monday morning. With temperatures inland likely remaining below freezing throughout the weekend, no thaw of lying snow is expected until conditions moderate early next week.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
