Scots braced for snowy weekend amid fears of power cuts and travel delays
Scots are braced for a snowy weekend with the likelihood of travel delays and power cuts. The Met Office has issued yet another weather warning after days of alerts around Christmas and New Year.
The forecasters have a warning in place for ice for the entire west coast, including Glasgow, and the inner and outer Hebrides starting at 4pm today, Thursday, January 2. An hour later, an alert for snow and ice comes into force for northern Scotland and the Highlands.
Both last until Friday morning at 10am, but there won't be much let up for Scotland as the Met Office have confirmed a new warning will be in place at the weekend.
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Coming into force as the clock strikes midnight on Saturday night, it will remain in place throughout Sunday and until noon on Monday. It covers the vast majority of Scotland's mainland, stretching as far north as Dornoch in the Highlands.
It encompasses all of our cities, with only parts of the west coast, the northern Highlands, and northern Aberdeenshire outwith the alert zone.
Up to a whopping 20cm of snow is predicted on high ground and the Met Office has warned that some communities may be impacted by power cuts, while certain rural areas are at risk of being cut off.
The snow may cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous so Scots are urged to plan their route, check for delays and road closures, amend their travel plans if necessary and leave themselves plenty of travel time.
Essential items include warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, and an ice scraper/de-icer. Power cuts - which affected Highland communities on New Year's Eve - mean torches, batteries, and a power pack should be on hand.
"Whilst not all areas may be affected, outbreaks of snow will likely develop during Sunday and Sunday night, potentially giving some significant accumulations in places," the Met Office said.
"The greatest risk is in southern and eastern Scotland, where 2-5 cm may accumulate in quite a few places and perhaps as much as 10-20cm over high ground. Rain or sleet is more likely near some northern and eastern coasts."
Regions and local authorities affected:
Central, Tayside & Fife
Angus
Clackmannanshire
Dundee
Falkirk
Fife
Perth and Kinross
Stirling
Grampian
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
Highland
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
Dumfries and Galloway
East Lothian
Edinburgh
Midlothian Council
Scottish Borders
West Lothian
Strathclyde
Argyll and Bute
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow
Inverclyde
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
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