Frozen Frrriday
Majestic midwinter scenes, but Met Office issues alert for up to 8in of snow today
WINTER arrived i n Scotland yesterday as much of the country woke up to freezing temperatures and a covering of snow.
The Highlands saw the worst of the wintry weather, with northern areas experiencing some heavy snowfall.
But worse could be to come today as the Met Office issued two weather warnings, with much of the country expected to experience snow and sub-zero temperatures.
Yesterday, police reported a number of weather- related accidents across the country, while at one stage the Scottish Ambulance Service urged people to travel only if necessary.
In the Highlands, the Inverness to London train passed through a winter wonderland at Kingussie early in the morning, while at Pitlochry the Atholl Palace Hotel could be seen rising out of the freezing mist.
In Renfrewshire, a road was closed in Giffnock, near Glasgow, as vehicles were skidding on black ice, and pavements in many areas were still frozen in the early afternoon.
A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council said: ‘There were issues at various locations throughout the area, with snow falling onto already frozen surfaces, creating black ice.
‘Gritting vehicles have been out treating both priority and nonpriority routes throughout the morning, dealing with problem areas.’ The
Met Office has issued two yellow ‘be aware’ warnings for today, with much of the country expected to wake up to snow, with up to eight inches forecast for higher ground.
Drivers were warned to take care in the tricky conditions. RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: ‘We’re expecting our busiest days since the start of the year. Disruption is inevitable. Motorists should make sure they’re ready for winter.’
Affected regions include Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, Highlands and Islands, south-west Scotl and, Lothian and Borders and southern parts of Strathclyde.
The warning area covers the fringes of Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as the M8, linking the country’s two
largest cities. A further warning for ice is in place for the Western Isles.
The Met Office said it expects ‘some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces’. Meteorologist Bonnie Diamond, of the Met Office, said: ‘Conditions have been hazardous in many parts of Scotland today.
It will be cold again overnight, with Aviemore down to -5C or -6C and Glasgow -1C. Overnight into Friday morning, any road above 1,300 feet (400m) could suffer a serious dump of snow.’
An 18-hour warning for rain on the East Coast was also issued yesterday.
Anything from two to three inches of rain (50-75mm) could fall between this afternoon and midnight, especially on higher ground.
The Met Office has warned of cold conditions until Christmas, with more snow forecast for this weekend, next week and beyond.
Bookmaker Coral cut the odds on a white Christmas to 3-1 for Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Spokesman John Hill said: ‘A white Christmas looks like more than a dream this year.’