“If you need to travel, please drive to the conditions, be prepared for delays and allow extra time for your journey”
The wintry weather conditions have been causing disruptions to travel in various parts of Scotland (Image: Beth Edmonston/PA Wire)
Motorists are being urged to ‘be prepared’ as an amber weather warning for ice and snow has already led to the closure of roads. The wintry conditions have already seen several snow gates being closed in the north of Scotland.
Highland Council are also reporting incidents of camper vans and cars stuck on ice in popular tourist areas and is advising people to drive with caution. And Traffic Scotland confirmed that several roads were already off limits.
The snow gates on the A93 Braemar-Glenshee, A939 Tomintoul-Cockbridge, B974 Cairn O’Mount-Fettercairn, and at Bealach na Ba were shut this morning, and have continued to stay shut into the afternoon.
In Angus, a stretch of the A90 is closed in both directions following a crash. The incident happened shortly after 1pm today on the dual carriageway at Keithock near Brechin. Traffic Scotland has confirmed the road is now closed in both directions to allow for vehicle recovery to take place, reports Aberdeen Live.
Aberdeen City Council has said it is ‘continuously gritting the primary routes’ across the city amid the amber warning which also includes high winds.
Two separate amber weather warnings for heavy snow in parts of the Highlands and north-east Scotland came into force at midday on Friday (January 2), while a yellow warning covering snow and ice stretches as far south as Angus and Perthshire.
The amber alerts warn that 10-20cm of snow are likely at low levels, with 30-40cm possible on higher ground. Forecasters also warned that strong winds could lead to ‘blizzard conditions’. The Met Office has stated that travel disruption is expected with delays and cancellations to rail and air services, along with potential power cuts and difficult road conditions.
Several areas in Scotland have been issued weather warnings by the Met Office(Image: The Met Office)
Traffic Scotland regularly posts updates on their X page (formerly known as Twitter) regarding road conditions and closures. It is advised to check Traffic Scotland, on their social media pages or website, for the latest updates before traveling, as they continue to post new information throughout the ongoing weather warnings.
The yellow warning remains in force until midnight on Friday and will extend further south over the weekend, covering areas including Perth, Dundee, and southern parts of Argyll and Bute.
Originally set to end at midnight on Sunday (January 4), the warning has now been extended until midday on Monday (January 5). While the amber snow warnings will remain in place until midday on Saturday, January 3.
Authorities are urging people to reconsider whether their journeys are necessary and think about changing their plans to ensure they stay safe.
Chief Superintendent Scott McCarren, Police Scotland’s head of road policing, said: “Our advice is to plan ahead and consider if your journey is really necessary during the bad weather or if it can be delayed until conditions improve.
“If you need to travel, please drive to the conditions, be prepared for delays and allow extra time for your journey. Please don’t drive through road closures, the decision to close roads is not taken lightly and is done for public safety.”
Additionally Aberdeen Airport has advised passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport. An AGS Airports spokesperson explained: “The airfield is currently operational and our teams will continue to work to clear snow and de-ice the airfield throughout the day.
“We would advise passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline and to take extra care when travelling to the airport.”
Authorities are urging drivers to take precautions before setting off(Image: Getty Images)
Several flights to and from Aberdeen Airport have already been cancelled or delayed due to the extreme weather conditions. Widerøe’s WF392 flight from Bergen to Aberdeen was observed circling the airport this morning as it attempted to land, before ultimately being forced to turn back to Norway.
The airline said the runway had not been sufficiently cleared of snow to allow a safe landing, prompting the aircraft to return to its departure point.
Meanwhile multiple other flights have also been affected by the weather, including the 9am and 12.55pm KLM services to Amsterdam, as well as Loganair flights to and from Dublin and Norwich, all of which have been cancelled.
Scotland’s Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, added: “Some very challenging weather and freezing temperatures are being forecast for the next few days and into the weekend.
“We would urge people to listen to Police Scotland travel advice and check with their operator.
“The Traffic Scotland website gives people access to the latest information on the trunk road network and Traffic Scotland social media channels are updated regularly, so you can check if your route is available.
“There may also be disruption on other modes of transport, so please check with your operator before setting off.”