A Tayside road has been closed after an Arctic blast brought freezing temperatures and snow to Scotland.
Locals in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands and Islands woke up to wintry scenes this morning after the mercury plummeted overnight, with a number of schools across the north and north-east forced to close.
The A93 Braemar to Perth road has been closed at the Spittal of Glenshee due to “adverse weather conditions”.
The B974 Banchory to Fettercairn road, or Cairn O’Mount, was closed due to the snow earlier but has since reopened.
“Bitterly cold” temperatures expected across Tayside as freezing Arctic conditions move in
Police Scotland’s North East division said it has had to deal with a number of “non-injury collisions” due to problems with snow and ice.
Elsewhere in Scotland the A939 road at Cock Bridge and Bridge of Leachd has been forced to close.
Bear Scotland said the A90, A95 and A96 roads are all being affected by the wintry conditions.
Wintery conditions on #A95, #A90 & #A96 – our winter teams are working hard to deal with any snow and ice this morning. Please #DriveSafe
— BEAR NE Trunk Roads (@NETrunkRoads) December 8, 2017
Several routes affected by snow & ice this morning. We’re dealing with a number of non-injury collisions. Please allow extra time for your journey & increase stopping distances #ABZTravel pic.twitter.com/RyEbQFxOjl
— NE Roads Updates (@PolScotRoadsNE) December 8, 2017
A severe yellow warning is in place for Tayside as Scotland was braced for three days of snow with accumulations of about 8in forecast for the highest ground and 2in possible at lower levels.
The Met Office said it will feel “bitterly cold” on Friday and Saturday as freezing temperatures and snow move into Scotland from the Arctic in the wake of Strom Caroline.
Rural areas of Tayside are expected to be hit by the wintry weather, with “flurries” possible as far east as Dundee; however much of the region is being afforded shelter from the Highlands.
Lows of -3C are possible across Tayside from Friday evening into Saturday morning.
Met Office meteorologist Ian Robinson said: “You will find a few (showers) feeding through particularly into Tayside. Chances are they will be falling as snow even to low levels.
“(On Friday) there could be the odd snowfall across the Dundee area but generally it looks like the mountains in the north-west will give protection and take most of the snow.
“It is certainly north and western areas which looks likely to see most in the way of snow showers. There will be the odd snow shower but it is mostly a bright day with some long spells of sunshine, but feeling bitterly cold with day time temperatures of 4C and 5C.”
Here’s some of the best photographs of the snow from across Scotland this morning:
Puppy Sky loving the snow this morning, Nairn, Scotland @BBCHighlands @BBCScotWeather @StormHour @metoffice #loveuksnow #FridayFeeling pic.twitter.com/xTfz6LUXdk
— Lisa@Lethen (@lisawood81) December 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/featherytravels/status/939073729572765696
It's 9:22am here in Nairn #Highlands of #Scotland ?
Overnight #Snow & more this morning. The church ⛪is visible on left of photo @SkyNewsNaz
☺ pic.twitter.com/u1D9R9oB3l— Nigel (@saskiasamoyed) December 8, 2017
I love waking up to this #snow #Scotland #FridayFeeling pic.twitter.com/YrLqI5aHsu
— Esther Marcos (@esthermar27) December 8, 2017
Snow is beautiful in the garden ⛄#aberdeenshire #scotland #snow #sky #Weather #loveukweather #sky #clouds @CloudAppSoc @StormHour @UKweatherpics @BBCWthrWatchers @BBCScotWeather pic.twitter.com/gWsTeHt1X6
— Laura Taylor (@douglas_laura) December 8, 2017
It snowed in the night! Mountains over the water look amazing#bute #scotland #snow pic.twitter.com/KdI1Q894EO
— Rhodry the Scottish (@DeerhoundRhodry) December 8, 2017
