The Met Office has officially issued two separate yellow weather warnings for snow across various parts of Scotland, signalling potential travel disruption and hazardous conditions for residents. These alerts come as the national weather service anticipates significant snowfall in the coming days.
Detailed Warning Zones and Timings
One of the yellow warnings encompasses a broad swathe of northern and eastern Scotland. This alert stretches northwards from Stirling, covering Perth, Aviemore, Inverness, Fife, and the entire Highlands region, extending as far north as the Orkney Islands. This warning is scheduled to become active at midnight on Tuesday and will remain in effect until 3pm on Wednesday afternoon.
A second, distinct yellow warning has been specifically issued for the Shetland Islands. This alert is set to commence slightly later, coming into force at 6pm on Tuesday evening. It will persist throughout Wednesday, remaining active until the end of the day.
Areas Unaffected by the Alerts
It is important to note that the western and north-western regions of Scotland are currently not included within the scope of these Met Office warnings. These areas are expected to experience different weather patterns during this period.
Flood Risk and Environmental Advisories
Concurrently, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued its own advisories regarding potential flooding. An official flood warning is currently in place for the Churchill Barriers area within the Orkney Islands.
Furthermore, SEPA has indicated a risk of localised flooding in parts of Tayside and Angus, although no formal warning or alert has been activated for these specific regions at this time. A spokesperson for the agency stated on their website: "Localised coastal impacts are possible in Orkney and up the east coast from high wave overtopping at times of high tide. Localised river flooding impacts are also possible in eastern Tayside and Angus, resulting in flooding to low lying land and roads."
Transport and Travel Disruption Expected
The impending weather conditions are already prompting transport operators to issue their own warnings and advisories to the public.
Ferry operator CalMac has announced several yellow and amber warnings, indicating a high likelihood of disruption and potential cancellations across many of its vital services. Passengers are strongly advised to check for updates before travelling.
Scotrail, the national rail provider, has proactively encouraged all travellers to verify the status of their planned journeys in advance. In a statement on social media platform X, the railway operator said: "If you're travelling tomorrow or Wednesday, please check your journey on our website, app or visit us as we're expecting snow across parts of the country. We plan to run a full service but some disruption is possible." This underscores the expectation that while services aim to operate normally, the adverse weather may lead to delays or alterations.
Residents and travellers across the affected regions are urged to stay informed through official Met Office, SEPA, and transport provider channels, plan journeys carefully, and exercise caution during the period these warnings are in effect.
