Police issue 'do not travel' alert as Storm Bert to batter Scotland with heavy snow, rain and wind

Warning of snow and ice across much of Scotland

People have been urged by police not to drive on Scotland’s roads on Saturday as Storm Bert batters the country, with an amber weather alert issued for heavy snow and rain.

Hundreds of schools are closed amid snowy conditions.

An amber alert for heavy snow and ice will be in force between 7am and 5pm on Saturday in an area north of Scotland’s Central Belt, where 10cm-20cm is likely on ground above 200m and potentially as much as 20-40cm on hills above 400m.

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Parts of the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Angus are covered by the amber alert. The rest of Scotland is covered by yellow weather warnings for wind, rain and snow on Saturday.

The Met Office said Storm Bert is expected to bring “heavy rain, strong winds and disruptive snow to parts of the UK through the weekend” and warned of travel disruption and potential flooding.

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Storm Bert is causing widespread disruption this weekStorm Bert is causing widespread disruption this week
Storm Bert is causing widespread disruption this week | AFP via Getty Images

A “do not travel” warning issued by Police Scotland covers all roads north of the Central Belt.

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Forecasters said power cuts and travel disruption are likely and there is a good chance some rural communities could become cut off.

Overnight on Thursday, the Met Office said much of the UK experienced temperatures near freezing, with the mercury falling as low as -6C at Tulloch Bridge in Scotland.

The forecasting body said many would wake up to a frost with icy surfaces in places, with several yellow warnings for snow and ice in place across the UK until 10am on Friday.

One covering parts of Scotland is in effect until midday before a slew of further yellow alerts for wind, rain and snow go live on Saturday.

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A yellow warning of snow and ice for much of Scotland, northern England and parts of western and eastern England and Wales is in force between midday on Thursday and 10am on Friday.

Police Scotland has advised people not to travel in areas north of the Central Belt on SaturdayPolice Scotland has advised people not to travel in areas north of the Central Belt on Saturday
Police Scotland has advised people not to travel in areas north of the Central Belt on Saturday | Met Office

The wintry weather has affected education with more than 114 schools shut in the Highland Council area on Thursday due to snow, including Inverness Royal Academy where pupils were told their prelim exams planned for the day will be rescheduled.

Almost 40 schools in Aberdeenshire are also shut while many others had delayed openings, and in Moray around 12 are closed and others opened late.

It comes after more than 100 schools or nurseries were closed in Scotland on Wednesday because of the weather.

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The weather has also caused transport disruption, with Stagecoach Highland services in Inverness suspended due to road conditions and Stagecoach Bluebird services in Moray disrupted.

Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: “Through into Friday … snow showers are set to continue mainly around coastal areas though once again still a few feeding inland at times.

“There will also still be plenty of autumnal sunshine. Still feeling cold though, particularly in those brisk winds – once again we’re only looking at highs of around 5C, slightly higher in the south west around 7C.

“Across the north those temperatures struggling to move past 2-3C.

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“As we head into Friday evening, a change is on its way as we introduce Storm Bert moving its way in from the Atlantic. So we’ll see clouds spilling in from the south west with outbreaks of rain – heavy at times by the time we reach Saturday morning.”

Ms Criswick said there were likely to be “heavy” outbreaks of rain throughout Saturday, “falling as snow” at times across northern parts of England and parts of Scotland.

Parts of south-west England including Plymouth and Exeter are under a yellow warning for snow until 3pm on Thursday, with 5-10cm predicted in higher parts of Dartmoor.

Yellow warnings for rain have been issued from Saturday to Sunday morning in south-west England and Wales.

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There is already a yellow warning for heavy snow on Saturday followed by a “rapid thaw” and rain on Saturday night in north-east and north-west England, the West Midlands, Yorkshire, and much of Scotland.

The RAC urged people to take care on the roads.

RAC Breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson said: “The first taste of winter means drivers are suddenly contending with the some of the worst road conditions we’ve seen all year.

“With freezing temperatures already causing disruption in the east and north of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and snow showers now affecting regions further south, we advise motorists to plan well as ice forms on untreated surfaces.”

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