Scotland Braces For Blizzard As Met Office Issues Warnings

Scotland is bracing for a fierce blast of wintry weather as the Met Office issues two yellow weather warnings for snow and blizzard conditions, set to impact large swathes of the country from Tuesday, February 3, through Wednesday, February 4, 2026. For residents across the Grampians, Tayside, Fife, the Highlands, Orkney, Argyll and Bute, and the Shetland Islands, the next 48 hours promise not just a picturesque dusting of snow but the potential for significant disruption to daily life.

The first yellow alert kicks in at midnight on Tuesday and will remain active until 3pm on Wednesday, covering much of eastern and northern Scotland. According to the Met Office, rain will initially fall as sleet before turning to snow, with accumulations of up to 20 centimeters (about eight inches) expected in the hardest-hit areas. Strong winds are forecast to whip up the snow, leading to blizzard conditions and drifting, particularly in the north. The regions under this warning include Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Orkney Islands, and Argyll and Bute.

A second warning targets the Shetland Islands, beginning at 6pm on Tuesday and running until just before midnight on Wednesday. Here, persistent snowfall could leave up to 10 centimeters (four inches) on higher ground, with more than 3 centimeters (one inch) expected widely. These conditions are expected to cause significant challenges for road and bus services, and Shetlanders are being urged to plan their journeys with extra caution.

According to BBC News, the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire, and Perth and Kinross have already endured a tough start to 2026, with disruption from snow, rain, and flooding since early January. The Met Office warns that the new weather front will only add to these woes, stating: "At low levels precipitation will be a mix of rain, sleet and snow which could lead to some small snow accumulations in places. Strong winds at times will lead to blizzard conditions and drifting of lying snow, especially in the north of the warning area."

Travel disruption is expected to be widespread. STV News reports that motorists, bus passengers, and rail travelers should brace for delays and possible cancellations. The warnings highlight risks to roads and railways, with forecasters urging people to allow extra time for journeys and to keep essentials in their vehicles. Scotrail, Scotland's main rail operator, has encouraged travelers to check the status of their journeys ahead of time, noting: "We plan to run a full service but some disruption is possible." Ferry operator CalMac has also announced yellow and amber warnings for disruption and cancellations across many of its services, particularly impacting the Orkney Islands and other coastal regions.

For those living at higher elevations, the snow totals could be especially dramatic. The Met Office predicts that above 100 meters, snow accumulations could reach 1-3 centimeters (up to one inch) by Wednesday, with as much as 5 centimeters (two inches) in some places. For ground above 200 meters, accumulations of 10 centimeters (four inches) are expected, with some localities potentially seeing up to 20 centimeters. At lower levels, the precipitation will be a mix of rain, sleet, and snow, which could still lead to slippery surfaces and minor snow build-up.

Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, is not immune to the effects of this wintry blast. According to the Glasgow Times, the forecast for early February includes colder, unsettled weather with occasional strong easterly winds and a maximum temperature around 5°C. A spokesman for the Met Office told the paper: "A cloudy day and feeling colder. A few showers around, these wintry over the hills. Staying dry around the west coast. Occasionally strong and gusty easterly winds. Maximum temperature 5°C." The outlook for the rest of the week remains mixed, with mostly cloudy conditions and outbreaks of rain or hill snow, and windy spells at times.

This latest bout of severe weather follows a January marked by three named storms, including Storm Chandra, which brought strong winds, heavy rain, and snowfall to many parts of the UK. Some climate experts are drawing connections between the increasing frequency and intensity of such events and the broader effects of global climate change. Sean Batty, an STV weather presenter, explained that the warming Arctic—currently around 20°C higher than normal—helps fuel a "vicious" cycle that drives more extreme winter weather across the Northern Hemisphere. "The freezing air that’s usually ‘locked’ over the Arctic can be pushed south into Europe, Asia, and North America, while milder air surges north to replace it. And as the atmosphere warms, it holds more moisture – meaning rain and snowfall can be far more extreme than they once were," Batty said.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued a flood warning for the Churchill Barriers area of the Orkney Islands and cautioned about possible localized flooding in parts of Tayside and Angus, though no official warning is in place for those regions. SEPA noted: "Localised coastal impacts are possible in Orkney and up the east coast from high wave overtopping at times of high tide. Localised river flooding impacts are also possible in eastern Tayside and Angus resulting in flooding to low lying land and roads."

For many Scots, the prospect of another "Beast from the East"—the infamous 2018 storm that brought the country to a standstill—remains a concern. While the Met Office has not predicted anything quite so dramatic for this week, it has made clear that the weather agency's warnings are based on conditions coming in from the east, and that the situation could change rapidly if the weather front intensifies.

As the country prepares for the incoming snow and blizzards, authorities are urging everyone to stay informed, heed official advice, and take precautions when traveling. The Met Office’s warnings, in place for up to 39 hours, serve as a stark reminder that winter is far from over in Scotland—and that the next few days will test the patience and resilience of communities across the affected regions.

With the threat of heavy snow, blizzards, and travel disruption looming, all eyes will remain on the skies—and on the latest updates from forecasters and emergency services.