Snowmageddon as amber warnings cause chaos with schools closed and flights cancelled

Fresh amber and yellow weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office as parts of Britain are buried under thick snow causing chaos and major travel disruption

Amber weather warnings have been put in place as harsh wintry conditions are expected to deteriorate further across the UK. A fresh amber weather warning for snow was announced on Sunday morning, targeting parts of Scotland – including Aberdeen, Aviemore in the Cairngorms, and Ullapool in Ross-shire.

The warning takes effect at 6pm on Sunday and runs until 10am on Monday, with forecasters predicting “heavy snow” and significant travel chaos. Additional yellow warnings for snow and ice remain active for Wales, Greater Manchester and south-west England – whilst a large portion of England’s east coast falls under a yellow ice warning.

A yellow warning covering snow and ice affects much of Scotland north of Glasgow, set to expire at midnight on Monday. These warnings encompass vast areas of the Highlands and Aberdeenshire, along with Orkney, Shetland, and the Outer Hebridean Islands, running from Sunday evening through to 10am Monday – with possibilities of another 5-10cm of snow building up at lower elevations, and potentially 20-30cm accumulating on higher terrain.

The Met Office has warned that residents in areas under the amber weather warning should brace for travel chaos, with rural communities at risk of being completely isolated.

Officials also highlighted the possibility of flight cancellations and warned that mobile phone networks could suffer disruption.

A Met Office spokesperson explained: “Heavy snow showers will become more frequent and may merge to give longer spells of snow at times.

“The areas and period covered by this warning are when the heaviest and most disruptive snow is thought most likely during the current cold spell, with existing yellow warnings covering a wider area and a longer period.”

Social media was abuzz with reports of 14cm-deep snow blanketing parts of Aberdeenshire on Sunday morning.

Loganair was forced to cancel flights from Aberdeen and Inverness airports due to the heavy snowfall. Shetland Isles Council announced that schools would remain shut on Monday, while schools in Aberdeen will open later in the day.

Aberdeenshire Council has decided to close all its schools and nurseries on Monday, with further assessments to be made regarding the situation.

A spokesperson for Aberdeen City Council stated that schools and ELC provisions in the city will not open until 11am on Monday and breakfast clubs will not run.

They added: “Further updates for each school will be provided by head teachers tomorrow morning once they have assessed individual local circumstances.”

A Facebook post from the Shetland Isles Council read: “With the current wintry weather conditions, and the Met Office Amber Weather warning for more snow overnight, ALL SCHOOLS in Shetland will be CLOSED tomorrow – Mon 5th January.”

Police have issued travel advice following another amber weather warning for snow across north and northeast Scotland.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell warned: “The forecasted heavy snow showers and ice means driving conditions are likely to be hazardous in some areas.

“Our advice is to plan ahead and consider if your journey is really necessary during the weather warnings. We continue to work with partners to help our communities impacted by the adverse weather.

“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.”

Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has warned: “We’ve already seen challenging conditions and freezing temperatures, with more snow and ice on the way for the same areas.”

She added: “Of course for many Monday marks a return to work from the festive break. If you have to travel then please ensure your vehicle is winter ready and have a winter kit in your car.

“Follow Police Scotland travel advice. If you can delay your journey until the amber warning has expired, please do so.

“I’d also like to thank all the frontline staff such as gritter drivers, chainsaw gangs, police officers and many others who have been out working in dreadful conditions these past few days and over the next 48 hours.”

Matthew Lehnert is a Met Office Chief Meteorologist. He said: “As we begin the first full working week of the year, we face a range of winter weather hazards with snow showers and ice.

“In the north of Scotland, snow showers are expected to become more frequent on Sunday night with some locations within the Amber warning areas seeing a further 20-30 cm accumulate by Monday morning.

“Elsewhere in the UK, snow showers, ice and frost are expected at times but milder air will make attempts to spread eastward from Tuesday.

“This will mean rain becomes more likely in the south, but there is also the possibility of more organised snow along the boundary of the mild and cold airmasses. Strong winds could also be a feature later in the week.”