A weather forecaster has warned this week’s snow and ice is just the precursor to something much bigger in the coming weeks. Much of Scotland has seen wintery weather over the past 48 hours with schools closed and travel disruption reported.
A fresh weather warning has been issued for 12 areas of Scotland into Tuesday. Weather charts show snow falling somewhere in Scotland constantly until at least Friday while warnings remain in other parts of the UK.
James Madden of Exacta Weather says the recent cold snap was predicted by long-range models. And that paves the way for a further Arctic blast later in the month that could run all the way into February.
Exacta’s autumn and winter weather report “covered a major snow event for these exact dates in early January”, according to Mr Madden. He said it also predicted “what we expect to be an even more memorable weather event later in January and possibly into at least early February”.
READ MORE: Non-stop snow in Scotland for 120 hours as Met Office gives ‘more warnings’ verdict and 15-year record under threat
Mr Madden said the modelling still points to this and he expects it to come to fruition “with even higher confidence on an already high confidence scenario due to the recent and expected cold and snow that has taken shape so nicely”. Meanwhile, the Met Office has confirmed the coldest night of winter so far with a temperature of -13.3C being recorded at Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands, between Ullapool and Inverness.
And on Monday morning, a new yellow weather alert for snow and ice was issued. Forecasters say wintery showers will continue into Tuesday for parts of the west coast and northern Scotland.
The yellow warning covers the west coast and northern part of the country
(Image: Met Office)
Up to 5cm could accumulate on lower ground with 10cm on ground above 200m. Sleet will also fall, increasing the risk of ice with the Met Office warning roads and railways will be affected. Icy patches are likely to form on pavements creating a risk of injury from slips and falls.
The warning runs from 4pm on Monday, January 6 until 12pm on Tuesday, January 7. It covers:
- Aberdeen
- Aberdeenshire
- Moray
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- Highland
- Orkney Islands
- Shetland Islands
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Argyll and Bute
- East Ayrshire
- North Ayrshire
- South Ayrshire
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