Scotland is staring down the barrel of a brutal winter storm as the Met Office slaps two yellow weather warnings across huge chunks of the country, with heavy snow and blizzard conditions set to hit from Tuesday night.
Up to 20cm of snow and fierce winds will hammer roads, railways and ferries, leaving travellers facing major delays and danger from Tuesday 3 February into Wednesday 4 February 2026.
Where and When the Worst Will Hit
The first warning covers eastern and northern Scotland from midnight Tuesday until 3pm Wednesday. That means Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Orkney, Angus, Perth and Kinross, Dundee, Fife, Stirling, Clackmannanshire and parts of Argyll and Bute are all in the firing line.
The second alert targets Shetland from 6pm Tuesday until just before midnight Wednesday, where persistent snow could dump 10cm on higher ground.
Forecasters say rain will quickly turn to snow overnight, with the strongest winds creating proper white-out blizzard conditions, especially north of Inverness.
Travel Nightmare Looms Large
ScotRail has already warned passengers to expect disruption even if they try to run a full timetable. CalMac ferries have issued yellow and amber alerts for cancellations, particularly to Orkney and the Western Isles.
Road bosses are telling drivers to stay off the A9, A96 and other major routes if possible. Gritters will be out in force, but drifting snow and ice will still make many roads impassable.
Police Scotland has urged people only to travel if absolutely necessary and to carry a winter emergency kit: blanket, food, water, torch, shovel and phone power bank.
How Much Snow Are We Really Getting?
Here is the Met Office breakdown by elevation:
- Below 100m: mostly rain and sleet, but 1-3cm possible in places
- 100-200m: 2-5cm widely, up to 10cm in spots
- Above 200m: 5-10cm widely, with 10-20cm over highest Grampian and Cairngorms routes
- Shetland higher ground: 7-10cm likely
That is enough to close schools, shut mountain passes and strand villages for days in the worst-affected areas.
Why This Keeps Happening
This is the fourth major snow event in Scotland already in 2026, after a January battered by three named storms including Storm Chandra.
STV meteorologist Sean Batty explained the bigger picture clearly. The Arctic is currently running 20°C above normal, weakening the polar vortex and shoving freezing air south across Britain.
Warmer air replacing it can hold more moisture, so when the cold finally arrives, it dumps much heavier snow than it used to. Climate scientists say we should expect these extreme swings to get worse.
Stay Safe Out There
If you must travel tomorrow:
- Check Traffic Scotland cameras before leaving
- Leave at least two hours extra
- Tell someone your route and expected arrival time
- Keep your phone charged and fuel tank full
- Never ignore road closed signs, lives have been lost doing that
For everyone else, this is a proper duvet day. Stock up tonight, charge everything, and keep an eye on elderly or vulnerable neighbours.
Scotland knows how to handle snow, but this one looks nasty. Stay warm, stay safe, and lets hope the forecasts are being cautious rather than underplaying it.
What do you think, will this be another Beast from the East repeat or just a sharp reminder that winter is still here? Drop your thoughts below and tag friends who need the heads-up.
