School closures and gritters out clearing routes in Caithness
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Schools in Lybster and Dunbeath are closed and all roads in Caithness are currently being treated by gritters due to the heavy snowfall last night and this morning.
Highland Council posted an update for the county at 9.14am today stating that "snow and ice [are] affecting all routes this morning [and] treatment is ongoing on all routes including footpaths".
All routes in Sutherland are affected by snow this morning with 5cm to 15cm on high ground and 3ft drifts in places, states the council bulletin.
The Met Office has a Yellow Warning in place for today and tomorrow which says: "Wintry showers will affect many areas of northern Scotland and parts of northeast England, though tending to become fewer in number from later on Thursday.
"A few centimetres of snow are likely to accumulate at low levels with the potential for as much as 15-20cm over higher ground. In addition, ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces, mainly where some of the showers fall as sleet close to coasts."
As of 9am today there are 4 secondary schools, 27 primary schools and 23 nursery schools closed or partially closed throughout the Highland region – Lybster Primary and Nursery schools are closed as well as Dunbeath Primary and Nursery.
The school closures page can be accessed on the council’s website at: www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures (It is updated from 7am and cleared each evening by 6pm).
Get alerts of closures on Highland Council’s Twitter and Facebook. Or phone 0800 564 2272 to get the latest pre-recorded message from headteachers regarding their school. Have the school's PIN ready when you call.
The Met Office warns:
- Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services
- Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
- Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths
