Britons have been cautioned about the risk of avalanches as the nation continues to endure a severe Arctic spell bringing heavy snowfall. Avalanche alerts have been activated in six regions of Scotland, with Aberdeenshire declaring a major incident. The Met Office has issued warnings for snow and ice across most of the UK. Aberdeenshire Council has alerted to potential isolation of rural communities and power outages due to heavy snowfall, leading to travel disruptions via road, air, and rail.
The Met Office has implemented a yellow weather warning for ice and snow in the northern part of the country, effective from midnight until 11.59pm. Forecasters predict additional snowfall of 5-10cm in areas above 100m and up to 20cm in regions above 200m. Southern and western parts of the UK are also under a yellow ice warning until 10am.
The Scottish Avalanche Information Service has identified six high-risk areas, including Creag Meagaidh, Lochaher, North Cairngorms, South Cairngorms, Torridon, and Glencoe. The risk level is considerable in the first five areas and moderate in Glencoe. Aberdeenshire Council has declared a major incident due to prolonged heavy snowfall with potential icy rain, urging residents to support each other, especially those in remote locations.
The weather warning by the Met Office spans north from Dundee to the Isle of Skye, with ongoing snowfall expected to transition into rain or sleet in lower areas but cause icy conditions on frozen surfaces. Police Scotland anticipates continued snow impact in the coming days and advises adherence to travel guidance. The Assistant Chief Constable emphasizes the collaboration among various agencies to mitigate disruptions and urges the public to assist vulnerable individuals during adverse weather conditions.