Amber alert for snow after coldest night of winter

Snow ploughs were seen in Lerwick on Wednesday morning

An amber warning for snow has been issued for parts of Scotland after the country's coldest night of the winter.

Temperatures dropped as low as -14C at Dalwhinnie in the Highlands.

The amber alert covers Shetland, Orkney and parts of northern Scotland from 1500 on Wednesday until 1800 on Thursday.

All schools in Orkney and Shetland will remain closed on Wednesday, while dozens of schools in Aberdeenshire are either closed or opening late.

More then 25,000 pupils have been given the day off in the Highlands as more than 200 schools and nurseries have been closed or only been able to open partially.

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A new yellow warning has also been issued by the Met Office for further snow on Friday across parts of north and central Scotland, following on from the existing yellow warning already in place for the country throughout Wednesday and Thursday.

More snow is expected across Wednesday, with the potential for a further 15 to 20cm of snow across the north of the country.

The Met Office amber warning said frequent, occasionally heavy snow showers would affect the Northern Isles and northwest Scotland, creating possible blizzard conditions.

Police Scotland have warned of a high risk of disruption in affected areas.

Jason Kelly, the Met Office's chief meteorologist said: "With deep snow already lying on the ground for many in Scotland, we're going to see a significant topping up of totals over the next couple of days, especially for those in the north of Scotland.

"Within the amber warning area, an additional 15 to 20cm of snow is possible in a few locations. Strengthening north-westerly winds will also cause some lying snow to drift, potentially bringing some additional hazards, such as temporary blizzard conditions."

The Scottish government's minister for transport Fiona Hyslop stated that winter resilience plans have been "in full effect" across the country.

A view of a frozen Lochan na Achlaise in Rannoch Moor

Neil Hutchison, the executive manager for roads for Shetland Islands Council warned drivers not to travel unless it was absolutely necessary, given the "deteriorating" conditions in the area.

He told BBC Scotland News: "The wind has picked up, the snow is quite dry so it is blowing around and drifting in in places... these conditions aren't favourable for driving."

By the end of Friday, more than 40cm of snow may be seen on high ground in north-west Scotland, the Met Office said.

Heavy frosts and freezing conditions are likely across virtually the entire country, with experts warning of treacherous pavements and roads.

Forecasters added that Wednesday night could see the coldest January temperature for 14 years.

A yellow warning for ice in central and southern Scotland will remain valid until midday, with a warning for ice and snow in place across the Northeast and Northern Isles, Highlands and Islands, Argyll, Stirlingshire, Perthshire, Angus and Ayrshire.

Rail operator ScotRail stated they expected to run normal service, save for a few alterations on the Highland line, while all flights to and from Kirkwall Airport in Orkney have been cancelled for Wednesday afternoon.

Bus operator Stagecoach has suspended their services across Tain, Aviemore, Caithness, Orkney and Skye due to road conditions.

The previous lowest temperature this winter had been -12.5C, in Altnaharra, which was recorded in early December.

In January 2010, -22.3C was recorded in the same Highlands village.

The sub-zero temperatures are expected to continue until the weekend.

By Huw Williams, BBC Shetland Reporter

I thought it was the end of Christmas music for at least the next ten or eleven months. But here in Lerwick, as the great Shakin' Stevens put it:

"Snow is falling all around me."

And it's true too that "children" are "playing...having fun".

Children like Jax - who turned two on Monday. He's a huge fan of Up Helly Aa, hence the Viking horns on his knitted Toorie.

But with Jax and two other children at home, mum Lucy Saether says they've all been going a bit stir crazy. So they're out for a morning, with Jax in his sledge.

Former councillor Betty Fullerton says seeing the bairns out enjoying the snow is "the silver lining" to snow falls over the past three days. Falls which have seen schools closed, buses and flights cancelled, and medical and leisure facilities closing.

Betty's driven into Lerwick from her home in Burra. It was, she says, "pretty bad" all the way in. But she and husband Theo saw the gritters out and about, doing the best they can to keep the main roads passable.

"They do a good job", she says, "and as long as they keep going, we'll be able to keep going."

Keeping the gritters going is down to the council's Neil Hutcheson.

He has twenty trucks - based in every island "from Unst down to Bressay". He says: "It's difficult when the wind picks up".

That, and forecasts of up to thirty centimetres of new snow, is why the Met Office have upgraded their weather warning from Yellow to Amber.

Neil says there's not much more they can do with the main fleet of gritters but they have hired in extra JCBs and tractors fitted with ploughs to work on side roads.

So, conditions here may be "challenging". But most people are rising to the challenge.

Whether it's the people skiing to work, the firefighters battling to clear the runway at Sumburgh airport, or the people just getting on as best they can.

Shetland could see another 15-20cm of snow later on Wednesday

Jax and his mum, Lucy, enjoying the snow in Lerwick

Getting into Lerwick from Burra was difficult for Betty Fullarton

Neil Hutcheson runs Shetland's fleet of gritters

How is the weather in Scotland impacting you? Get in touch.