New snow warning with Scotland now in grip for ninth day

People across Scotland are being warned to prepare for more snow and ice as the north and north-east of the country enters their ninth consecutive snow day.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice across much of the country from 12:00 on Friday until 15:00 on Saturday, and between 02:00 and 15:00 on Sunday.

Most main roads in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland have been cleared, and ScotRail is expecting to run a full timetable on Friday.

But many schools are still closed, including more than 160 in Aberdeenshire, 78 in Aberdeen and 63 in the Highlands.

The yellow warning on Friday and Saturday covers much of Scotland:

• Central Tayside and Fife
• Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray
• Highland
• South-west Scotland, Lothian and the Borders
• Glasgow and much of the west of Scotland

Sunday’s yellow warning covers:

• Aberdeen; Aberdeenshire; Moray
• Highland
• Orkney
• South West Scotland; Lothian Borders
• Strathclyde

In Aberdeen, streets remain covered in snow, with drivers still having to scrape their cars clear.

ScotRail said it hoped to run a full timetable on Friday but urged customers to check their journey on its app or website as delays were possible.

Network Rail managed to clear the final section of the railways in the north on Thursday after its large snow plough reached Wick.

On the roads, Highland Council said the A836 Lairg to Tongue road was shut due to drifting snow at Crask and north of Altnaharra, while Traffic Scotland said snow gates are shut at the Spittal of Glenshee to Braemar, Cock Bridge to Tomintoul, and at Bridge of Dye.

Police Scotland urged people to continue following travel advice.

In Sauchen, Aberdeenshire, which has been cut off since New Year’s Day, contractors finally rolled in on Thursday to clear the snow.

Local resident Sarah Johnson, 66, told BBC Scotland News that a lot of people had not been able to get out at all.

“Especially living up the side roads in Sauchen, even people with four-wheel drives are struggling,” she said.

“If you have got a drive like ours, we are just stuck here. That’s it.”

After more than a week of snow, she said people were starting to run low on supplies.

She added: “My main concern at the moment is to try and get my drive clear which is quite long.

“My husband has to get to hospital on Tuesday. Tuesday may sound a long way away but this time last week I would never have thought that this week we would still be snowed in.

“I haven’t been able to get a car out in seven days now and that’s a concern.”

Jim Thow, of JKR Contractors, was helping clear snow in Sauchen on Thursday.

“A lot of folk have been stuck since last Friday, their fridges are bare and they need out,” he said.

“They have been really grateful to see us. I’ve not seen weather like this since the 80s, but winter is winter isn’t it?

“It’s our job, its what we do, but it’s good to get them out and let them get on with their lives.”