Schools closed as snow and ice warning extends

Nearly 100 schools and nurseries have been closed in Scotland due to freezing weather conditions.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice across parts of northern Scotland and its west coast, which will last from 10:00 on Wednesday until 12:00 on Thursday.

A separate yellow warning for ice covers parts of central, east and west Scotland until 10:00 on Thursday, and a third warning for snow and rain covers most of Scotland this weekend.

The country saw its coldest start to the winter in 26 years on Monday with temperatures in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, reaching a low of -11.2C (11.8F).

Drivers have been warned of potentially icy conditions on the roads, after more snowfall overnight across the Highlands and Aberdeenshire.

Temperatures widely dropped to between -1C (30.2F) and -4C (24.8F) across the UK during the night, plunging as low as -7.8C (46F) in the Grampians.

Sleet and snow showers are predicted in northern areas, especially near the coast.

Central, southern and eastern parts of the country remained dry but temperatures are still around freezing.

And forecasters have predicted another bitterly cold night.

About 46 schools in Aberdeenshire have been closed for the day, with many others opening later or without pupil transport.

The Highland Council closed 25 schools and 16 nurseries, while Moray Council shut eight schools and three nurseries.

Two schools in Shetland are closed and some transport has been cancelled to those that remain open.

The latest ice alert covers areas of Angus, Perthshire and the south-west coast of Scotland, as well as parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

And a warning for snow and ice spans northern Scotland, as well as most of the west coast.

The Met Office has urged people to check for delays and road closures ahead of time.

There was some travel disruption on the train line between Keith in Moray and Huntly in Aberdeenshire earlier but all lines have since reopened.

Heavy snow is expected across Scotland on Saturday, followed by a rapid thaw and rain in the evening.

The Met Office has issued a yellow alert for rain and snow from 04:00 on Saturday until 09:00 on Sunday.

The alert covers Grampian, Highlands and Islands, Central, Perthshire, Lothian, Inverclyde, the Borders and southwest Scotland.

Transport Scotland has urged motorists to drive to the conditions this weekend and check public transport before leaving the house.

A yellow weather warning means it is likely that the weather will cause disruption to travel, and there is a danger of slips and falls on icy ground.

A spokesman said: “The Met Office has issued a number of severe weather warnings for much of the country for snow and ice for the rest of the week, including the weekend.

“We should expect more freezing temperatures so we’re asking the public to make sure they plan their journeys in advance, as challenging conditions could impact the transport network.”

On Monday night, temperatures below -10C (14F) were recorded in some parts of northern Scotland.

The last time -10.9C (12.4F) or lower was recorded on or before 19 November was in 1998.

Tulloch Bridge, near Fort William, in the Highlands also reached -10.7C (12.7F).

Scotland has seen not a temperature below -10C in November since 2016.

Only a handful of school across Scotland were closed yesterday, including four rural schools in Shetland, and one in Orkney, as well as one primary school and three nurseries across the Highlands.

In Aberdeenshire, Peterhead Academy was closing early due to expected conditions.

Road conditions in the area were poor – a Stagecoach bus ended up on its side in the New Leeds area but there were no injuries.

Forecasters described it as the first taste of winter, and said temperatures across the UK were expected to be lower than the mid-November average.