Travel warnings as snow and ice affect northern Scotland

Travel warnings have been issued in components of northern Scotland which have been hit with heavy snow and ice.

Amber warnings, masking components of the north east, Highland, Perth and Kinross, Shetland and Angus have now expired.

However, yellow warnings are in place till noon on Monday for many areas north of Edinburgh and Glasgow, in addition to Argyll and Bute. There is a separate warning for components of the Borders from midnight on Monday to 23:59 that night time.

ScotRail has warned that trains might be cancelled or delayed, and Highland Council has urged folks to not journey except “absolutely necessary”.

The northbound line between Laurencekirk and Stonehaven has been closed as a result of depth of snow, which Network Rail mentioned was effectively above the peak of the rails.

A ScotRail spokesperson mentioned that, typically, folks “may wish to postpone travel until weather conditions improve”.

Anyone with tickets dated for Friday or Saturday can use them on Sunday or Monday at no additional value.

Phil McKay, head of roads and infrastructure at Aberdeenshire Council, mentioned coping with the situations was “extremely challenging”.

He mentioned it was one of many heaviest snowfalls he had seen over 15 years within the job.

“It’s come very quickly in the last few days and obviously the wind has been a significant challenge with the drifting,” he mentioned.

“It’s not been quite at the level of the Beast from the East because it has been a bit shorter in duration, but certainly it’s up there in terms of snow intensity.”

He mentioned highway floor temperatures had been anticipated to stay “extremely low” for the subsequent week.

“People should expect there to be quite a bit of disruption for a good few days into next week,” he added.

Voluntary 4×4 response crew Cotag mentioned that previously 48 hours they’d moved 48 members of NHS workers, 4 sufferers due for dialysis and rescued 4 ambulances caught in snow.

During the identical time interval, DSBM transport and restoration in Fraserburgh rescued greater than 100 folks caught in automobiles and attended six crashes, together with a 12-car pile up simply exterior New Leeds in Aberdeenshire at about 02:00.

Owner Dylan Masson, 24, informed BBC Scotland News: “That was probably the hardest one yet as it was all up against fences and we were trying to keep the damage to a minimum.

“For the previous 48 hours it has been continuous. There has at all times been somebody caught. We’re simply attempting to get everybody house and protected and heat.

“This is the worst I’ve seen it in Fraserburgh with the drifts. We just want everyone to stay at home just now.”

He mentioned he had plenty of his associates serving to out with calls that his firm couldn’t get to.

“We’ve had people pretty much on their knees saying we are their heroes, crying and everything,” he added.

“We’re trying our best to help as much as we can.”

In Aboyne, 20cm (7.9ins) of snow was recorded, with 19cms (7.4ins) in Loch Glascarnoch within the Highlands, 17cms (6.7ins) in Dyce, Aberdeen, and 15cms (6ins) in Aviemore.

On Friday, ScotRail was unable to run trains to or from Thurso attributable to heavy snow and there have been no alternative buses as a result of highway situations.

Other automobiles, together with a snow plough, turned caught within the snow and ice.

Six SPFL matches have been called off due to the conditions.

Several snow gates have been closed and there have been numerous accidents, together with a bus that crashed on the A952 in Aberdeenshire and a crash that closed a part of the A90 at Keithock in Angus.

The A9 and the A99 between Helmsdale and Wick have been closed in each instructions.

The Met Office mentioned the mercury dropped as little as -5.7C at Drumnadrochit on the shore of Loch Ness within the Scottish Highlands on Friday.

ScotRail introduced a number of practice cancellations within the north of Scotland on Saturday, whereas numerous roads within the area have additionally been closed.

Forecasters mentioned some delays and cancellations to air journey had been additionally possible, as had been energy cuts and disruption on the roads.

The Met Office chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks mentioned: “Arctic air and brisk northerly winds are gripping the UK as we start the new year.

“Snow and ice warnings stay in pressure for a lot of areas, with the danger of heavy snow showers, particularly throughout northern Scotland and over increased floor elsewhere, although many inland areas will keep largely sunny and clear.

“Bitterly cold conditions will persist through the weekend and into next week, with daytime temperatures struggling to rise above freezing for some, and overnight lows dipping to minus double figures in places.

“We urge folks to remain climate conscious, hold updated with the forecasts and plan forward as icy roads and slippery surfaces are possible.”

Network Rail said snow patrol locomotives had been running on the Highland Main Line, Aberdeen-Inverness and Far North Lines but said the weather and road conditions for its response teams were treacherous.

And ScotRail said it had teams carrying out checks across the network, monitoring the snowfall depth.

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail’s service delivery director, told BBC Scotland News: “They will ensure we have essentially the most up-to-date data in our management centres and hold everybody protected and shifting.”

Network Rail wrote on X: “We’ll possible see situations worsen on all routes out of Inverness, the place we may expertise disruption attributable to deepening and drifting snow, coupled with the low temperatures.

“We’re unlikely to see much change on Sunday and Monday, with drifting snow in the north of Scotland and continued freezing temperatures and sharp frosts everywhere else. On Monday, we expect to see more widespread snowfall, spreading from the northwest.

“We’ll proceed to work laborious to maintain the railway working, with groups working across the clock regardless of the situations on the market.”

Avalanche warnings are in place across six mountain areas, with an amber “appreciable hazard” issued by the Scottish Avalanche Information Service for Northern Cairngorms.

The other areas, including Torridon, have “reasonable hazard” warnings.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said weather conditions would be challenging and urged people to listen to police advice.

Ch Supt Scott McCarren, Police Scotland’s head of road policing, urged people to plan ahead and consider if journeys were really necessary.

“If that you must journey, please drive to the situations, be ready for delays and permit additional time in your journey,” he mentioned.

“Please do not drive via highway closures, the choice to shut roads shouldn’t be taken flippantly and is completed for public security.”

The Scottish gritter and snowplough fleet is out in pressure throughout the nation’s highway community – with names like Sir Andy Flurry, Robert Brrrns, and Plougher O’Scotland.