Warning: Amber

To expect: Snow

Affected areas: Orkney & Shetland

Start time estimate: Saturday midnight

End time estimate: Saturday noon

The Met Office has announced an Amber snow warning for Orkney & Shetland for Saturday.

Snowfall is forecast for the region, expected to start covering the area at around midnight on Saturday and lasting until noon.

The Amber alert for snow was announced at 10:35am on Friday, January 2.

A Met Office forecast said: “Heavy snow showers will become more frequent and may merge to give longer spells of snow at times. Further accumulations of 10-15cm are likely at low levels with 20-30cm possible on high ground. Strong winds will also result in drifting of snow and temporary blizzard conditions. Lightning may be an additional hazard. The period covered by this warning reflects a spell of more frequent snow showers and a higher chance of disruption, and yellow snow and ice warnings remain valid for a longer period.”

What to expect

Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers; Some delays and cancellations to bus and air travel are likely; There is a good chance that some rural communities could become cut off; Power cuts are likely and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.

What should you do?

Snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous, so to keep yourself and others safe:

• Plan your route, checking for delays and road closures, amending your travel plans if necessary.

• If driving, leave more time to prepare and check your car before setting off.

• Make sure you have essentials packed in your car in the event of any delays (warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, high visibility vest and an in-car phone charger).

People cope better when they have prepared in advance for the risk of power cuts or being cut off from services and amenities due to the snow. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.

Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

For further details see Met Office Warnings & Advice.

What is an amber weather warning?

The Met Office has three categories of weather warning, depending on the likely impact of severe weather and also how likely it is to strike in a particular area.

A yellow warning is issued when weather conditions are expected to disrupt travel and traffic and may impact on daily routines but are not likely to pose a risk to life or property.

An amber warning is more severe and advises people to think about changing their plans to minimise the risk.

A red warning means weather conditions are expected to be dangerous with widespread damage to property and a risk to life, with the public usually advised to avoid travelling.

The Amber weather alert for snow will remain in place until noon on Saturday.