Amber snow warning hits 15 areas in Scotland

Amber snow warning hits 15 areas in Scotland - how long 'risk to life' alert will last

An amber weather warning for snow has been issued in parts of Scotland today as the freezing cold weather shows no signs of easing off.

Some 15 areas in Scotland are set to be thrashed with snow, with up to 10cm potentially laying this morning amid the Met Office "risk to life" warning.

Forecasters have warned that disruption could be likely, with power cuts, travel delays and road closures due to heavy snow. Drivers are being urged to take extreme care if choosing to travel.

The warning - which was set in place overnight - will last until 12PM today and covers much of Scotland's Central Belt. There is also a yellow warning for snow and ice covering a much wider area, valid until 9pm this evening.

The Met Office warning states: "Outbreaks of snow are expected to move eastwards across Scotland on Friday. Snow will initially fall to low levels, with 5 to 10 cm accumulating in places this morning in two to three hours.

"From late morning, snow at low levels will turn to sleet or rain, but further snow is likely above 200 metres where up to 20 cm may accumulate by afternoon."

They warn that the following could occur in areas impacted:

Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers
Some delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely
There is a good chance that some rural communities could become cut off
Power cuts are likely and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected

Here is everything you need to know about today's amber warning, including how long it lasts, areas affected, and how to cope with disruption.

How long will the amber warning last?

The amber warning will last until 12pm on Friday, December 16. However, all 15 areas that are impacted by the amber warning will still be under a yellow warning for snow and ice.

The separate yellow warning will stay in place until 9PM, meaning that there will be a "fair chance of some travel delays on roads" and "a small chance that power cuts will occur".

Can I drive during an amber warning?

There is nothing stopping you from driving during the amber alert, but the Met Office warns that vehicles could become stranded due to the conditions.

The AA have set out guidance for driving during bad weather and state that you may be better off avoiding the roads if you can when an amber warning is in place.

They say: "You should consider cancelling or rearranging travel plans, and taking any necessary steps to minimise the impact of severe weather."

They do, however, add : "Your insurance provider won't invalidate your policy just because you had to drive in heavy snow or strong winds."

What to do if there is a power cut

This amber warning states that power cuts are "likely", and Met Office guidance states that it's always best to be prepared for a sudden loss of power.

They recommend keeping essentials to hand, which they say includes:

candles and matches or lighters
torches with batteries
mobile phone power pack

Additionally they say that you should switch off all electrical appliances that shouldn’t be left unattended, ready for when the power comes back on.

However you should leave a light on, so you know when the power cut has been fixed.

Check in on your neighbours to make sure that they are okay and wrap up due to the cold conditions.

They also state that you can call 105 for information, it’s a free service for people in England, Scotland and Wales - although this will only be available if your phone coverage remains unaffected.