Scotland is bracing for a second consecutive weekend of severe winter weather, with the Met Office issuing fresh yellow warnings for snow and ice across much of the country.
Widespread Warnings and Disruption
The latest alert, which covers most of Scotland, is in force until 3pm on Saturday, 10 January 2026. A further yellow warning will then be active from 2am until 3pm on Sunday. Forecasters warn that a band of snow moving over Scotland and northern England is likely to cause further travel delays and disruption.
This follows several days of "intense" snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, particularly in the north and north-east, which have severely impacted daily life. More than 250 schools remained closed on Friday, including over 150 in Aberdeenshire alone, alongside dozens in the Highlands and Aberdeen, and several in Moray. For many pupils, this marked a fifth day off school at the start of the new term, with remote learning provided in many cases.
Transport Network Under Pressure
The wintry conditions have caused significant travel problems. The Inverness to Wick railway line was closed due to snow, and a number of local roads, particularly in rural areas, remained impassable. While main routes in the north and north-east have been cleared, the hazard is ongoing.
The Met Office stated: “Whilst not all areas will be affected, scattered wintry showers will continue to feed inland from the North Sea... These are likely to give some snow accumulations in places... Ice will be a more widespread hazard, especially overnight as temperatures fall widely below freezing.”
Official Response and Community Support
Ministers met with police, local authorities, and other resilience partners on Friday to coordinate the ongoing response. Justice Secretary Angela Constance acknowledged the ongoing challenges, stating: “As we enter a second consecutive weekend of weather warnings... I appreciate parts of Scotland are still not back to normal.”
First Minister John Swinney travelled to Aberdeen to thank gritter operators, transport staff, police, and other key workers. He said he wanted to “express my thanks to those who’ve worked so hard to keep the transport networks operating”.
Aberdeenshire Council declared a major incident earlier in the week, warning that some rural communities could be cut off. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell of Police Scotland urged the public to check on neighbours or relatives safely where possible, as some services remain impacted.
