Traffic disruption and schools closed as snow and ice hit the north of Scotland

Sixty-nine schools and 26 nurseries across the Highlands were closed today after blizzard conditions hit the region overnight.

There is disruption on roads across the north of Scotland and motorists have been urged to drive with caution after much of the country was blanketed with snow.

But while people in the Highlands woke to winter wonderland conditions, Aberdeen hasn’t seen as much as a snowflake.

The A9 was closed earlier after a lorry jack-knifed close to Dalwhinnie at 5.45am.

A police spokeswoman said the road had re-opened at around 7.40am. The fire service were also called to a minor accident on the A833 close to Beaufort Castle, near Beauly, at 6am.

More than 8,000 pupils are at home in the Highlands today because of the school closures.

Inverness Airport’s runway was closed until midday because of the heavy snow. The airport said flights after 12 would be in operation but could be subject to delays.

Good Morning, just a wee update – Inverness Airport is currently Snow Closed until 11am. Please continue to monitor the website for further details! 🙂

— Inverness Airport (@INVAirport) January 16, 2018

Just another update – The runway is now snow closed until 12 midday!

— Inverness Airport (@INVAirport) January 16, 2018

The Met Office’s yellow be aware warning for snow and ice came into effect at 3pm yesterday and has been extended until Thursday morning. It covers the Highlands and islands and parts of Moray but the north-east is not included.

The chief forecaster said: “Snow showers will continue through Tuesday and Tuesday night, although perhaps more of sleet and hail near some coasts.

“Over the hills, snow will drift in the strong to gale force winds.

“The warning has been updated to increase the amounts of snow and impacts.”

The warning adds that delays on roads and public transport cancellations are possible and there is also a chance of power cuts.

Snow and sleet is also affecting many roads in Scotland further south, including the M9, M80, A720, M77 and M73.

The schools and nurseries closed in the Highlands (as of 2.10pm)

• Acharacle Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Alness Academy:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Alvie Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Ardgour Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Ardnamurchan High School:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Ardross Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Balnain Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Bower Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Canisbay Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Canisbay Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Cannich Bridge Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Cannich Bridge Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Castletown Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Castletown Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Craighill Nursery – EM:  Closed (bad weather)
• Craighill Nursery – GM:  Closed (bad weather)
• Craighill Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Crossroads Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Daviot Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Drummond School:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Dunvegan Nursery – GM:  Closed (bad weather)
• Dunvegan Primary:  Partially closed – opening 1 hour later (severe road conditions)
• Durness Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Edderton Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Farr High School:  Closed (bad weather)
• Farr Primary (Inv):  Closed (bad weather)
• Farr Primary (Suth):  Closed (bad weather)
• Farr Primary Nursery (Inv):  Closed (bad weather)
• Farr Primary Nursery (Suth):  Closed (bad weather)
• Foyers Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Gairloch High School:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Gairloch Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Gledfield Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Gledfield Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Glen Urquhart High School:  Closed (bad weather)
• Glenurquhart Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Golspie High School:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Golspie Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Grantown Grammar School:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Grantown Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Grantown Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Halkirk Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Hill of Fearn Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Hilton of Cadboll Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Hilton of Cadboll Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Inver Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Invergordon Academy:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Inverie Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Inverie Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Inverness High School:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Inverness Royal Academy:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Kilmuir Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Kilmuir Primary Nursery – GM:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Kingussie High School:  Closed (bad weather)
• Kinlochbervie High School:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Kinlochbervie Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Kinlochewe Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Kinlochewe Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Knockbreck Primary (Tain):  Closed (bad weather)
• Lairg Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Lairg Primary Nursery:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Macdiarmid Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Macdiarmid Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Melvich Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Melvich Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Millburn Academy:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Miller Academy Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Miller Academy Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Milton Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Milton Primary Nursery:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Newmore Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Obsdale Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Park Primary School:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Pennyland Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Pennyland Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Poolewe Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Poolewe Primary Nursery:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad
• weather)
• Reay Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Rogart Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Rogart Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Scourie Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Shieldaig Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Shieldaig Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• South Lodge Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• South Lodge Primary Nursery:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad
• weather)
• St Duthus School:  Closed (bad weather)
• Strathconon Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Strathdearn Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Stratherrick Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Strathgarve Primary:  Partially closed – closed in the afternoon (bad weather)
• Tarbat Old Primary:  Closed (bad weather)
• Tarbat Old Primary Nursery:  Closed (bad weather)
• Tongue Primary:  Closed (bad weather)

There are currently no school closures in Orkney, Shetland, Moray or the north-east.