Snowfall across Moray and the Highlands caused early morning traffic problems for motorists.
Delays were reported on the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road near Fochabers after a lorry jack-knifed at a roundabout, with some HGVs also struggling to climb the hill heading south from the village.
Traffic tailbacks were also reported in the Buckie area with residents in Dufftown and on higher ground waking up to snow several inches deep.
Forecasters have provided assurances that the wintry blast will with not last, but have warned of strong winds battering the north-west later in the week.
Today’s snowfall forced transport to be cancelled to schools in Dufftown and Aberlour from communities in the Auchindoun, Cabrach and Edinville areas.
But classrooms remained open for local pupils through the day.
Police issued warnings to drivers to take care on the A96 and the A98 Fochabers to Buckie road in the early hours due to the weather.
Snow is affecting some of our roads in Moray this morning, including the A96 and A98 around Fochabers. Please take care and allow extra time for any journey this morning #DriveSafe #KeepingPeopleSafe pic.twitter.com/X0qgEb0diO
— Moray Police (@MorayPolice) January 28, 2020
Highland Council reported up to four inches of snow on high ground in Lochalsh with ice and frozen hail also affecting roads on Skye.
Elsewhere, light coverings were reported in Badenoch and Inverness with the authority explaining that routes would be treated according to priority.
Calmac cancelled its afternoon ferry service from Oban to Barra due to the sea conditions, with disruption expected to continue today.
🔶AMBER #Oban #Castlebay 29Jan Due to weather cancellations on Tuesday 28th, the amended 0650 departing Castlebay service has been cancelled Wednesday 29th. Details: https://t.co/W6MxWUvnzE
— CalMac Service Info (@CalMac_Updates) January 28, 2020
The Met Office explained that the snow was likely to be confined to higher ground for the rest of the week, with temperatures expected to rise to as high as 11 degrees.
Forecaster Nicky Maxey said: “It’s going to be an improving picture through the week with temperatures increasing, but still with the continuing risk of snow. But That will be confined to higher ground above 300 or 400 metres in the north-west.
“It will predominantly remain dry today with varying amounts of cloud, but on Thursday and Friday there will be showers, which could be heavy, particularly overnight.
“This will likely fall as rain due to the higher temperatures.
“We are also seeing a changing weather pattern with low pressure coming in from the Atlantic which could cause some gale-force wind on the west coast.”
