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Scotland’s northern and northeastern regions are facing an ongoing snow event, now extending into its ninth day, prompting new weather advisories urging residents to prepare for additional snowfall and icy conditions. The Met Office has issued yellow alerts for snow and ice affecting large parts of the country over the period from midday Friday through to mid-afternoon Saturday, with further warnings in place from early Sunday morning until mid-afternoon. Despite the extended disruption, many main roads in areas such as Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, and Highland have been cleared, and ScotRail aims to operate a full service on Friday.
However, the impact on local communities remains significant, with over 160 schools closed in Aberdeenshire, 78 in Aberdeen, and 63 across the Highlands. The weekend’s yellow weather warnings cover an extensive area including central Tayside, Fife, the Highlands, Aberdeen and surrounding regions, as well as parts of southwest Scotland and the Lothians. On Sunday, warnings will continue for much of the north and northeast, as well as Orkney and Strathclyde. Snow still blankets streets in Aberdeen, where motorists continue to clear their vehicles amid challenging travel conditions.
Efforts to maintain transportation links continue, with Network Rail clearing remaining tracks in the north by Thursday thanks to snow ploughs reaching as far as Wick. Nonetheless, some roads remain closed, such as the A836 between Lairg and Tongue due to drifting snow, and several snow gates are still closed in key mountain passes as reported by Traffic Scotland. Police Scotland has emphasized the importance of adhering to travel advice to ensure public safety. Meanwhile, the charity Aberdeen Cyrenians faced logistical struggles in delivering food supplies to vulnerable individuals due to transportation difficulties but has now resumed distribution after receiving promised stock.
Businesses have also been feeling the effects of the prolonged severe weather. Bruce Mackie, an organic dairy farmer from Peterhead, reported an £8,000 loss after missing a milk collection earlier in the week. He remarked, “It has shown how dependent it is on getting gritters and snow ploughs out.” Highlighting the complexities of the supply chain, he added, “It makes us appreciate the things we don’t see and take for granted day to day.” In contrast, residents of Sauchen, Aberdeenshire, which has remained isolated since New Year’s Day, finally saw contractors clearing the snow on Thursday. Local resident Sarah Johnson described the situation: “If you have got a drive like ours, we are just stuck here. That’s it.” She expressed concern about dwindling supplies and the challenge of her husband needing to get to hospital, saying, “I haven’t been able to get a car out in seven days now and that’s a concern.” Jim Thow of JKR Contractors, who has been assisting with snow clearance, noted that many people have been trapped and were “really grateful to see us,” acknowledging the severity of conditions he hasn’t witnessed since the 1980s
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