Scotland set for blizzard battering

Jan 19 2013

The east of Scotland will be subjected to a relentless stream of snow showers throughout the weekend, according to forecasters.

Strong winds have been pushing snow on to the east coast from the North Sea and forecasters predict this will continue into next week.

Snowfall is also expected to be more widespread as it pushes further inland with amber "be prepared" weather warnings issued by the Met Office for the Grampians, Tayside, Fife and Central regions.

These areas will get "frequent, and occasionally heavy, snow showers", with snowfall expected to be as deep as two to four inches and as much as six inches on higher ground, the Met Office has forecast. The wind is predicted to continue to intensify poor conditions with the "drifting of lying snow in the strong-to-gale-force south-easterly winds".

On Friday six hillwalkers were airlifted from the Cairn Toul area in the Cairngorms after one of their group got lost in the severe weather conditions. The 26-year-old was taken to Raigmore hospital in Inverness after Grampian Police, Braemar Mountain Rescue and the RAF were called in to assist at 12.45pm.

Numerous minor road accidents took place across Tayside on Friday night due to poor weather conditions according to police but there were no major incidents. Snow gates at the Spittal of Glenshee were also closed due to drifting snow caused by strong winds.

Tom Tobler, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "Through Saturday there will be snow showers for the east of Scotland particularly Aberdeen and the Grampians but also the Borders. There will be an easterly or south-easterly wind so anywhere exposed to that will be at risk. Any one shower will pass through on a breeze so shouldn't last too long but they will be continuous throughout the day.

"Through to Sunday there will be more snow showers in the east it will probably be a colder day with the majority of places struggling to get above zero degrees Celsius. On Monday this easterly wind will be continuing bringing further snow showers and could be stronger making them more widespread."

The Scottish Government advised people to prepare for heavy snow and icy conditions in response to the warnings.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said that the Scottish Government's Resilience operation met the Met Office, councils, police, transport authorities and the range of other agencies and organisations on Friday to try and minimise the disruption for individuals, families and communities.