Weather: Scotland to be hit by freezing winds and heavy snow

Scotland will be hit by freezing winds and heavy snow as March roars in, forecasters warned yesterday.

Yellow warnings for snow and ice across most of Scotland and north-east England are in place for tomorrow and Tuesday as Arctic air moves south with temperatures in the Highlands set to plunge to -15C.

Areas affected could experience power outages, delays to road, rail and air travel, icy surfaces and some rural communities may be cut off by the freezing conditions.

The Met Office said the week will start with the coldest day of the year so far with temperatures dropping to near freezing in northern parts of the UK.

Northerly winds will make it feel even colder – parts of north-east Scotland will feel like -4C.

The alert is aimed at residents in most of the north and north-east of the country plus Tayside, Fife, East Lothian and Midlothian, the Borders, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland. Ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces tomorrow night, the Met Office says, followed by frequent hail and snow showers on Tuesday.

The warning comes following a huge snowfall in the US that buried homes and businesses in California where Crestline reportedly had 91 inches of snow.

Senior meteorologist Craig Snell said: “Going into next week we do see a bit of a change with even colder air coming through and then an increase in risk of sudden disruption due to some sleet, snow and some ice.

“So at the moment, the main focus is across northern and eastern parts of the UK where we have issued warnings already for Monday and Tuesday for the risk of some snow showers moving in from the north.

“Highest accumulations will be across the high ground. But even at lower levels, we are likely to see some disruption in places as the showers come through.”

Snell said the Met Office yellow warnings were unlikely to change. He added: “Scotland and some eastern parts of England have warnings going throughout Monday and Tuesday. In other parts of the country, we are keeping a close eye on it, there is a chance that we could see some snow further south as we kind of go through the week ahead.”

STV meteorologist Sean Batty said by midweek the Highlands could be seeing temperatures as low as -15C.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “During periods like this, it is important to check in on family, friends and relatives who may be more vulnerable to the cold weather, as it can have a serious impact on health.”