Snow chaos has hit Scotland’s roads as the country sees temperatures drop amid several weather warnings.
Weather experts warned drivers after to take care if travelling as new warnings were put in place predicting strong winds and ice.
Stretching from as far as Thurso all the way to Dumfries, an alert begins at 9pm on Tuesday and lasts until December 4 at 10am. Earlier today the A9 was hit by snow which saw a FedEx lorry come off the road. Emergency Services attended the smash near Dalwhinnie and the driver escaped with minor injuries.
Nearby at Glentruim off the A9 also saw vehicles overturned due to heavy smatterings of the wintry weather. In the central belt roads outside Glen Ogle in Forth Valley were blocked by heavy snow as police asked drivers to avoid the area.
Police Scotland road officers in Forth Valley said: “1730hrs please avoid the area of Lochearnhead north on the A84/A85 Glen Ogle is currently blocked due to heavy snow!”
Shortly after Police in Tayside confirmed the A93 had also been closed at the snow gates at Spittal of Glenshee due to heavy snow and asked people to avoid the area.
The weather front comes thanks to a bout of rain and snow moving eastwards. This is to clear relatively quickly, but quickly falling temperatures are likely to result in ice formation, particularly over untreated surfaces.
Speaking on Tuesday’s forecast, Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: “Now through this evening this cloud will continue to move its way south and eastward, snow still falling on high ground snow across Scotland. We may even see some flurries of snow across the Pennines at times too.”
Later in the week, the far north is to see a wind warning that will begin at 4pm on Wednesday, December 4, lasting until 9am on Thursday, December 5. Strong winds will begin as south or southeasterly, but turn westerly on Thursday morning.
Forecasters are anticipating gusts of between 50-60mph in most affected areas, while coastal areas possibly in store for 60-75mph gales. This warning covers the far north including the Highlands, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Argyll & Bute and Orkney and Shetland Islands.
Pedestrians and cyclists are advised to stick to main roads and footpaths that are likely to be less slippery. Those driving should give themselves extra time for trips, checking road conditions or public transport schedules and be prepared to change travel plans if necessary.
In a statement, a FedEx official told the Courier: ”We can confirm that one of our vehicles was involved in an incident on the A9 near Dalwhinnie earlier today. We are relieved that the driver has only minor injuries and have arranged for their safe return home. We thank the emergency services and will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities.”
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