Parts of Scotland turned into a winter postcard overnight as heavy snow swept across the Highlands and Grampians, catching many by surprise on Tuesday morning. Yellow weather warnings remain active, roads are closing, and gritters are working round the clock while forecasters warn the wintry spell is far from over.
Snow Gates Close on Famous A939 as Conditions Worsen
The infamous Cockbridge-Tomintoul road, the A939 in Aberdeenshire, saw its snow gates slammed shut for the first time this season. Drivers faced “stop – police” signs and barricades as blizzards made the route impassable.
Photos from the scene showed deep drifts piling up within hours. A bright yellow snow plough pushed through rural roads near Huntly, throwing walls of white into the hedges. Local police urged people to avoid the area completely.
The sudden closures left some motorists stranded and forced others to turn back. Delivery drivers and commuters reported journeys taking double or triple the usual time.
Met Office Warnings Cover Large Swaths of Scotland
The Met Office kept yellow alerts active across much of the country. Mainland Scotland, including the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, Fife, and Orkney, stays under warning until 3pm Tuesday.
Shetland faces a longer alert that runs until the end of Wednesday. Forecasters say another 5-10 cm of snow could fall on higher ground, with 15-20 cm possible above 300 metres.
Meanwhile, Aberdeenshire’s east coast, including Aberdeen and Peterhead, battles heavy rain instead. That separate warning lasts until midday and brings a risk of surface flooding on roads already slick from earlier ice.
Travel Disruption Hits Roads, Schools, and Public Transport
Schools in the worst-hit areas took early action. Several in Aberdeenshire and Moray closed or opened late. Parents received texts before 7am telling them to keep children at home.
Bus services in the Highlands ran limited routes or cancelled entirely. Stagecoach North Scotland warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations throughout the day.
Train services between Inverness and the Central Belt faced speed restrictions because of ice on the tracks. Network Rail teams were out treating lines before dawn.
Police Scotland issued a simple message: only travel if absolutely necessary.
Stunning Scenes Delight Residents Despite the Hassle
In Braemar, one of Britain’s coldest villages, locals stepped out into a proper winter wonderland. One resident in a bright yellow jacket was photographed walking through thick snow that already covered pavements and cars.
Social media filled with pictures of snow-laden hills around Aviemore, Grantown-on-Spey, and the Cairngorms. Children built snowmen before breakfast in Tomintoul, while dogs bounded through fresh powder.
One X user wrote: “Woke up thinking it was Christmas morning. Braemar is pure magic right now.”
Another posted from the Lecht Ski Centre: “Road to the ski area is closed but the slopes are going to be epic when we get up there!”
What Happens Next and How to Stay Safe
The Met Office expects the snow risk to ease through Tuesday afternoon across the mainland, but cold air stays locked in place. Nighttime temperatures could drop to -8C in rural spots by Wednesday morning.
More showers will turn wintry again later in the week. Long-range forecasts suggest the cold pattern will continue into next weekend with further snow possible, especially in the north.
Drivers are urged to carry warm clothes, food, water, and a charged phone. Police also remind people to clear snow from car roofs before setting off to prevent it sliding onto windscreens.
Scotland’s winter has arrived early and with force. While the scenes are beautiful, the conditions are dangerous on untreated roads.
Stay safe out there, check travel updates before you leave, and let us know in the comments how the snow is affecting your area. If you’re sharing pictures, use #ScotlandSnow24 – the hashtag is already trending across X and Instagram.
