Scotland thinks its Wisconsin

29 November 2010 06:07 GMT

Drivers stranded and schools closed as snow chaos grips Scotland

A9 reopens but severe snow is continuing to cause chaos across the country with schools closed and treacherous road conditions.

Drivers have been stranded, and schools and roads closed, as the severe winter weather that struck Scotland over the weekend continues to cause disruption.

Much of the country woke up to yet more snow this morning, with further flurries predicted throughout the day and a danger of black ice.

The Met Office issued severe weather warnings in Grampian, Strathclyde, Central, Tayside, Fife, Lothian and Borders and South West Scotland.


The A9 was closed between Perth and Stirling for Sunday evening and Monday morning, but reopened in both directions around 10am. The M90 was shut from Perth to Kinross, the A93 at Spittal of Glenshee was also closed again for a second day. Snow is still causing delays on the A80, M80 and M876.

Chief Inspector Donald McMillan, head of Roads Policing for Central Scotland, said: "The weather conditions overnight have led to significant problems on the roads network. We are still asking motorists to only undertake their journeys if absolutely necessary.

"If you are making a journey by car, please ensure you have the maximum visibility by clearing all snow from your windows. Some drivers are taking to the roads with windscreens obscured by snow."

Midlothian Council said that all its schools would be closed to pupils because of the weather, though staff had been asked to attend. All schools in Dundee were also shut, along with Perth and Kinross, , Fife, Angus and Edinburgh. Elsewhere there were major school disruption in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

ScotRail warned those travelling by train to expect disruption, particularly in the central belt where further heavy snowfalls were forecast.

Forecasters said that more snow is likely across most of the country with the cold snap expected to last until the weekend at least. Coldest overnight in the UK was Altnaharra in northern Scotland, which recorded a low of minus 16.1C (3F).

Victoria Kettley, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "There will not be as much snow as on Sunday but there will be 2-5cm widely and over uplands easily up to 10cm through the day and overnight.

"It will remain cold as there's still the easterly wind so it'll be a maximum of 2-4 degrees centigrade in coastal areas and inland it would be lucky to get above freezing."