Parts of Scotland have been hit with a fresh weather warning as a snow alert initially meant to last 24 hours has rolled into a second day. Three regions are at the epicentre of weather chaos – and it’s showing no signs of abating.
The Highlands, Grampian, and Orkney and Shetland were slapped with a full day’s Met Office weather warning for snow which came into effect at 12pm on Tuesday, January 7 and was meant to end at 12pm on Wednesday, January 8.
These impacted areas are now bracing for even more disruption, as the warning has been extended until midnight tomorrow, Thursday. This time, a whopping 10-15cm (4-5 inches) of the white stuff is expected on grounds above 150 metres.
Met Office Chief Forecaster, Jason Kelly, said: “With cold weather persisting across the UK this week we have a number of severe weather warnings for wintry hazards. Snow showers will continue to fall over Scotland.
“Where surface water and snow freeze overnight there is a risk of ice as temperatures widely dip below freezing. There will however be good spells of sunshine for those away from northern coasts, though it’ll still feel cold in the northerly breeze.”
Sleet and snow showers will continue for the rest of Wednesday and Thursday, before dying out by the end of Thursday evening, according to weather experts.
Northwest Scotland and the Northern and Western Isles will see the most frequent showers on Wednesday, before extending to the Northeast on Thursday. Further accumulations of 3-7 cm (1 to 2.75 inches) are expected to low levels.
The wintry blast – which has persisted since before Hogmanay – has had an averse effect on schools in the Highlands in particular. Education bosses have been forced to halt teaching as snow and ice continues to move in.
A full list of schools closed in the Highlands on Wednesday, January 8 has been unveiled by the Record. Meanwhile, the areas getting off Scot free from the extended weather warning are Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, and South Ayrshire. The threat of snow and ice will end for them at 12pm on Wednesday.
Areas affected by Scotland’s new snow warning
Grampian
- Aberdeen
- Aberdeenshire
- Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- Highland
Orkney & Shetland
- Orkney Islands
- Shetland Islands
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