More than 80 schools shut as freezing conditions cause travel disruption

More than 80 schools across Aberdeenshire and Moray have announced they will stay closed with the UK experiencing the coldest night this winter on Sunday night.

Temperatures at Loch Glascarnoch in the northwest Highlands fell to minus 13.3C overnight and as well as schools and nurseries remaining closed, it is also causing problems for transport.

Poor driving conditions are also being blamed for the decision to keep schools shut and leave children at home on Monday morning.

Forecasters have been urging anyone who is leaving their house to remain cautious with snow and ice making underfoot conditions difficult.

(Image: PA) Several CalMac ferry routes have been affected with journeys subject to delay or cancellation at late notice as it looks to cope with the difficult conditions.

The CalMac website has 17 of its 30 routes currently being disrupted in some way.

It’s a similar problem for ScotRail, with the rail provider telling passengers to check their journey before travelling.

It said: “Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across the country until midday today.

“If you’re planning to to travel, check your entire journey using our app or website as delays and alterations to services are possible.

“Take care when out and about.”

Network Rail Scotland said it has made preparations to deal with the weather.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, it said: “Locomotives with ploughs are standing by at strategic locations, ready to clear tracks if it’s needed.

“Snow showers remain likely across parts of the West Highland Line and lines out of Inverness for the first half of the week.”

A Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice remains in place across the north east and east of the country as far south as Edinburgh until midday on Monday.

It warns that more than 10cm could fall on ground above 200 metres in northern areas, while further south snowfall accumulation is likely to be “patchier” and generally between 1cm to 2cm.

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A warning of snow across northern, western and south-west Scotland is in force until 11am on Monday.

Areas in the south west could see 2-5cm of snow in some places, mainly above 200 metres, while areas further north could see 1-4cm accumulate.

A warning of snow in south-eastern Scotland, extending from Edinburgh to Lanark and Lockerbie and down to the border, is also in force until midday on Monday.

The Met Office said that 2-5cm of snow could accumulate widely, with as much as 10-20cm over the higher ground of the Borders and the southern edge of the Lothians.