Widespread snow expected as cold snap continues

A blanket of snow covers Aberdeen and much of Aberdeenshire

Scotland's cold snap looks set to continue with Met Office yellow warnings for snow and ice in place for several days.

More than 180 schools in the north and north east of the country have been closed due to snow.

Forecasters expect more widespread snow showers to move in from the west on Tuesday, potentially affecting the whole of the country.

Transport Scotland said drivers should plan ahead for challenging conditions.

"We'll have a multi-operation response team working from the Traffic Scotland control centre, co-ordinating our resources and response," the agency's Spokesperson Stein Connolly told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime.

BBC Scotland forecaster Kirsteen MacDonald said overnight lows of minus 5 or 6C could be expected,

"On Tuesday morning we will see a spell of significant snowfall moving in from the west and slowly pushing its way eastwards," she said.

She said 2-5cm of snow were likely quite widely with some parts possibly seeing 5-10cm.

The yellow weather warning currently in place in the north will extend across the whole of the country from midnight.

On Monday schools in Aberdeenshire, Shetland, the Highlands and Moray were closed or had later start times due to the wintry conditions.

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Pupils with prelim exams in Aberdeenshire have been told new arrangements may be put in place.

Shetland Islands Council said road conditions were hazardous in many areas, affecting public bus services across the islands and disrupting ferry services.

Slopes at Glenshee ski centre were scoured by wind on Sunday

Scotland's ski centres, which have had limited opening this winter, are meanwhile hoping for more snow to fill in their runs.

Glenshee Ski Centre, near Braemar, opened after the A93 road was cleared of snow.

A post on Facebook said: "We have collected a bit of snow from last night on south-facing slopes, North-facing have been scoured by winds and we'll be looking at how this new snow has helped fill in the runs."