Winter has made an early and dramatic appearance across northern Britain as significant snowfall blankets parts of Scotland, triggering widespread weather warnings and travel disruption.
Widespread Weather Warnings
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for ice and snow covering almost all of Scotland on Tuesday, with only some coastal areas in the east and west escaping the alert. The warnings extend as far south as Lancashire and Yorkshire in northern England, indicating the severity of the wintry conditions.
Nick Forbes reported on Tuesday 18 November 2025 that the freezing conditions are expected to cause travel delays and hazardous conditions on pavements and cycle paths. The Met Office has also warned of potential power cuts, increased risk of injuries from slips and falls, and likely cancellations to public transport services.
Rural communities face the additional threat of becoming completely cut off as the wintry weather persists. Bear Scotland, responsible for maintaining the country's trunk roads, has reported challenging snowy conditions across multiple routes in the north-west.
Transport Chaos and Safety Advice
The impact on transport networks has been immediate and significant. Social media images show snow ploughs working to clear the A82 and A9 routes, while ferry operator CalMac announced numerous service cancellations via X. Railway operator ScotRail has advised all travellers to exercise extreme caution.
The Met Office has issued specific safety guidance for the public: "Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. Not needing to rush reduces your risk of accidents, slips and falls."
They recommend pedestrians use main road pavements which are more likely to be treated, and cyclists should similarly stick to major routes. All travellers are urged to check road conditions and public transport timetables before journeying.
Continuing Cold Snap
The wintry conditions show no signs of abating, with yellow warnings remaining in place throughout the week. On Wednesday, snow and ice alerts will cover northern Scotland, the north-east coast of England, Cornwall and Northern Ireland, while ice warnings extend across much of southern Scotland, northern and central England and Wales.
Thursday will see the warnings persist in northern Scotland, the north-east coast of England and Cornwall. The persistence of these conditions follows what meteorologists recorded as the coldest night since March, when temperatures plummeted to minus 7°C in Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands on Saturday.
Rain moving south-east throughout Tuesday is expected to fall on freezing surfaces, creating additional icy patches that compound the hazardous conditions. The Met Office emphasises the importance of staying updated with the latest forecasts as weather warnings may change rapidly.
