Large parts of the United Kingdom are facing continued travel disruption and hazardous conditions as yellow weather warnings for snow and ice remain firmly in place. The Met Office has extended alerts, with the north of Scotland bracing for further problems throughout Sunday and into Monday.
Widespread Warnings and Travel Advisories
While more serious amber warnings for northern Scotland expired on Saturday, a yellow warning for snow and ice is active until midday on Monday for that region. Separate yellow alerts also cover Wales, Greater Manchester, and South West England. Much of England's east coast is under a yellow warning specifically for ice.
Police forces have issued strong travel advice, with people in Orkney urged to avoid journeys due to dangerous road conditions. Authorities in the Highlands have advised against all but essential travel in areas like Badenoch and Strathspey, where roads have been severely affected.
Major Transport Disruption Across Scotland
The wintry blast has caused significant hold-ups on both road and rail networks. On Saturday, ScotRail was forced to cancel several train services in northern Scotland. The disruption continued into Sunday, with LNER reporting "major disruption" to services north of Dundee, expected to last into the afternoon.
Road closures were also implemented, notably the A90 between Brechin and Stonehaven, where severe delays occurred due to snow drifts. Network Rail Scotland reported snow accumulations of around 20cm on some lines in the north on Saturday afternoon.
Rural Communities at Risk of Isolation
The Met Office has warned that persistent heavy snow showers could lead to some rural communities being cut off temporarily. There is also an ongoing risk of power cuts in the hardest-hit areas. The forecaster stated that temperatures inland are likely to stay below freezing, preventing any thaw of lying snow over the weekend.
This cold snap, driven by Arctic air, has plunged the UK into sub-zero temperatures since the start of January. Loch Ness recorded a low of nearly -6C on Friday night, highlighting the severity of the freeze. The Met Office forecasts that snow showers, driven inland by strong northerly winds, will gradually ease during Monday morning.
