Amber Snow Warning Hits Northern Scotland as UK Braces for Prolonged New Year Cold Snap

By midmorning Friday, the road over Glenshee had disappeared into white. Snow gates on the A93 in Aberdeenshire were pulled shut, plows moved in convoy through drifting snow, and police urged drivers to turn back as the first major weather event of 2026 took hold across northern Scotland.

The Met Office brought an amber warning for heavy snow into force at noon Friday for parts of northern and eastern Scotland, warning of blizzard conditions, deep drifts and a risk of communities being cut off through midday Saturday. At the same time, health officials extended amber cold-weather alerts across every region of England, warning that the weeklong cold snap could lead to a rise in deaths and hospital admissions.

Together, the alerts mark a New Year cold spell expected to grip the UK well into next week, disrupting travel on some of Scotland’s most exposed roads and adding pressure on health and social care services already strained by winter illness.

Where the amber snow warning applies

The amber warning, issued Thursday morning, covers parts of Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus, Aberdeen City, Highland, Perth and Kinross, Easter Ross and Caithness.

Forecasters said frequent—and at times prolonged—snow showers would bring 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of fresh snow at lower levels, with 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 centimeters) possible over higher ground. Strong northerly winds are expected to whip snow into drifts and create temporary blizzard conditions, with visibility reduced to near zero at times on open roads and hills.

“Some very challenging weather and freezing temperatures are being forecast for the next few days and into the weekend,” Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said in a statement. “We would urge people to listen to Police Scotland travel advice and check with their operator before travelling.”

What’s driving the cold snap

Forecasters said the cold spell is being driven by Arctic air pulled south across the British Isles by high pressure to the west and low pressure to the east, establishing a strong northerly airflow. The pattern is delivering frequent snow showers—particularly to northern and eastern coastal areas—and keeping daytime temperatures close to or below freezing for many.

Overnight lows are expected to fall into “minus double figures” in parts of the country, the Met Office said, with some rural or high-level locations in Scotland likely to see minus 10C to minus 15C (14F to 5F). The agency warned the cold is likely to persist “well into next week,” with further snow and ice warnings possible.

Travel disruption and road closures in Scotland

While the heaviest snowfall is focused on the amber warning area, yellow warnings for snow and ice stretch across much of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and central and southern England over the first weekend of the year.

In Scotland, transport authorities are preparing for more severe disruption. Transport Scotland and Traffic Scotland highlighted routes at particular risk from heavy snow, drifting and poor visibility, including the A835 and A87, the A9 north of Inverness, the A95 and A96, and the A90 and Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. A Multi-Agency Response Team has been activated to monitor conditions and coordinate efforts across trunk roads, rail and airports.

Snow gates—barriers used to close roads in severe winter weather—were already down on several mountain routes by Friday, including the A93 between Braemar and Glenshee, the A939 between Tomintoul and Cockbridge, the B974 over the Cairn o’ Mount, and the Bealach na Bà pass to Applecross.

Police Scotland warned of stranded vehicles, long delays and rural communities being cut off.

“Our advice is to plan ahead and consider if your journey is really necessary during the bad weather or if it can be delayed until conditions improve,” Chief Superintendent Scott McCarren, head of road policing, said. “Please don’t drive through road closures; the decision to close roads is not taken lightly and is done for public safety.”

Local media reported vehicles stranded or abandoned in parts of Aberdeenshire, including around Newmachar, Meikle Wartle and Peterhead, as snow deepened and winds picked up.

Airport, rail and power impacts

Air travel in the north was also affected. Aberdeen International Airport reported multiple cancellations and delays as crews worked to clear snow and de-ice runways. One flight from Bergen, Norway, was forced to return to its origin after failing to land amid poor runway and visibility conditions, while at least one service from Amsterdam was canceled.

The Met Office warned that delays and cancellations to bus and rail services are likely in the worst-affected areas, and that power cuts and interruptions to mobile phone coverage are possible where heavy, wet snow and strong winds affect overhead lines.

England and Wales: ice risk and heavy travel

Further south, much of the disruption is expected to be less visible but still dangerous. Yellow warnings for snow and ice cover large parts of England and Wales, including London, Greater Manchester, the Midlands, South West England and Cardiff, as national motoring organizations expect millions of people to be on the move.

The AA estimated that about 20.7 million car journeys would be made on Friday as people travel home from New Year breaks and begin returning to work. Ice and light snow on already congested routes could increase the risk of collisions and long delays.

Health officials warn of increased risk

Health officials warned that the prolonged cold poses a serious risk to older people and those with underlying health conditions, even far from the heaviest snowfall.

The UK Health Security Agency issued amber Cold-Health Alerts for every region of England from the evening of Dec. 31 through the morning of Jan. 6. Amber is the second-highest level in the system and signals that the cold is likely to have “significant impacts” on health and social care.

Cold conditions can raise blood pressure and thicken the blood, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. They can also exacerbate respiratory illnesses and lead to more falls and injuries on icy pavements.

Health protection specialists urged people to heat their homes to at least 18C (64F), check on older relatives and neighbors, and ensure they have enough food and medication to avoid risky trips out in icy conditions.

“Exposure to cold weather can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly in older people and those with existing health conditions,” one UKHSA consultant in health protection said in recent guidance, adding that cold snaps often drive a surge in health service demand.

The alerts come on top of usual winter pressures from flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other seasonal illnesses, with emergency departments, ambulance services and GP out-of-hours providers already reporting heavy workloads.

In Scotland and other devolved nations, public-health messaging echoed similar themes, with charities such as Age Scotland advising older people to wear several light layers, keep a warm room in the home and take extra care to avoid slips and falls.

Authorities also warned about the risk of power cuts in rural and exposed areas, where heavy snow and strong winds can bring down lines. Households were told to keep torches, batteries and essential medicines to hand and to call the national power cut helpline on 105 if their electricity supply is interrupted.

A familiar winter pattern—though more localized

The cold snap comes less than a decade after notable winter events such as the “Beast from the East” in 2018 and the December 2010 freeze, both of which brought widespread disruption and left a strong impression on public memory. Meteorologists said the current episode is serious but, so far, more geographically focused, with the most severe snow confined to northern and eastern Scotland.

With the amber snow warning in force and further snow and ice alerts likely over the coming days, officials stressed that individual choices will play a large role in how the country weathers the first major test of 2026.

“We would always encourage people to plan their journeys in advance, follow the travel advice and drive to the conditions,” McCarren said. “If you do not need to travel during the worst of the weather, consider delaying your journey until conditions improve.”