Wintry weather returns

The gritter teams were out at 6am this morning treating priority one and two routes given the yellow weather warning in place for Orkney and other areas of the north of Scotland.

The team are continuing to monitor the conditions thanks to folk on the ground and keeping a watchful eye on the Met Office detailed forecasts coming across.

The snow seems to be melting fairly quickly at present and road surface temperatures are due to rise to 4 or 5 degrees C around midday, before dropping again below zero at around 6pm. However, there may be fluctuations depending on the number and severity of snow showers.

Our ‘weather eye’ is on this evening as the time of main impact, with road surface temperatures dropping and snow showers increasing in frequency, according to the forecast. As a result of this and the high wind, the team are putting the boards and ploughs on the gritters now in case drifting becomes an issue.

Unless conditions deteriorate beforehand, the next treatment of all priority roads is scheduled for 2pm.

As always, we are asking folk to be prepared and mindful that it may be clear when you set off from home, but snowy and icy in other areas, so please take extra care when out and about – driving to the conditions and also when on foot.