Hundreds of schools across northern Scotland will remain shut for a fifth consecutive day on Friday, 9 January 2026, as the region continues to grapple with the severe aftermath of heavy snowfall and icy conditions. A new Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice, covering much of Scotland, is in force from 8pm Thursday until midday Friday.
Widespread Disruption to Education and Transport
The persistent severe weather has caused significant and ongoing disruption. More than 250 schools are confirmed closed for Friday, with the worst-hit area being Aberdeenshire, where over 150 schools will not open. Dozens more are shut in the Highlands and the city of Aberdeen, with a number also closed in Moray. This means many pupils have effectively had their first full week of the new term cancelled, although remote learning has been provided in numerous cases.
On Thursday, the scale of the closures was stark, with 278 schools shut across northern Scotland – representing around 11% of the total school estate in the affected areas.
Travel networks are still recovering. While all 'priority one' routes in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands are now open, many smaller roads remain treacherous. Police Scotland reported 'multiple collisions due to icy conditions' on the A74(M), leading to a temporary closure. Snow gates also remain shut on the B974 Bridge of Dye. On a positive note, railway lines have largely reopened, with the northern section of the Far North Line between Brora and Wick/Thurso finally cleared of snow on Thursday evening.
Recovery Efforts Underway Amid Ongoing Warnings
Following days of 'intense' snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, the focus is now shifting to recovery. Aberdeenshire Council declared a major incident on Tuesday, warning that some rural communities could be cut off. Ministers, including Justice Secretary Angela Constance, attended a meeting of the Scottish Government's Resilience Room on Thursday to coordinate the response.
Ms Constance stated that while progress was being made, impacts would 'continue to be felt in the coming days'. She cited the new yellow warnings, the approach of Storm Goretti elsewhere in the UK, and an unpredictable weekend forecast as reasons for continued caution.
First Minister John Swinney echoed this, stating the government had been closely engaged throughout the prolonged period of amber warnings. 'The challenge with the snow has been, quite simply, the volume,' he said, praising the formidable resources deployed to clear key transport routes. He confirmed that the situation had now moved from an immediate incident response to a recovery phase.
Community Support Advised
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell of Police Scotland emphasised the multi-agency response, involving local authorities, emergency services, and health partners. He encouraged the public to check safely on neighbours or relatives who might be vulnerable during the ongoing adverse conditions.
With the fresh yellow warning predicting further wintry showers, patchy ice, and new snow across Scotland as far south as Glasgow, authorities are urging continued vigilance even as clean-up operations proceed.
