A string of four Amber warnings for snow are in force across parts of the northern half of Scotland. These are complemented by a series of Yellow warnings for snow and ice across many parts of the UK from Scotland and Northern Ireland to parts of Wales and England.

Matthew Lehnert is a Met Office Chief Meteorologist. He said: “As we begin the first full working week of the year, we face a range of winter weather hazards with snow showers and ice.

“In the north of Scotland, snow showers are expected to become more frequent on Sunday night with some locations within the Amber warning areas seeing a further 20-30 cm accumulate by Monday morning.

“Elsewhere in the UK, snow showers, ice and frost are expected at times but milder air will make attempts to spread eastward from Tuesday. This will mean rain becomes more likely in the south, but there is also the possibility of more organised snow along the boundary of the mild and cold airmasses. Strong winds could also be a feature later in the week.”

It is likely that the forecast will evolve and therefore important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings and plan ahead.

Staying safe in colder temperatures

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber cold health alerts for England until January 6.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “As the colder weather sets in it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.

“The forecast temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”

George Fiddes from Transport Scotland said: “Particularly cold weather is expected this week which is likely to impact driving conditions in the areas covered by the yellow warning, so our advice to motorists is to plan your journey, leave extra time if needed and drive to the conditions.

“The Traffic Scotland website gives people access to the latest information on the trunk road network and the Traffic Scotland X/Twitter page is also updated regularly so you can check if your route is available before setting off.

“There may also be disruption on other modes of transport, so please check with your operator before setting off if you’re planning to travel by rail, ferry or air.”

Age Scotland’s policy director, Adam Stachura, said: “With such cold temperatures and icy conditions ahead, try and make sure you have enough food and any important medications at home to reduce the need for unnecessary and potentially risky trips. This is particularly important if you have mobility challenges or are unsteady on your feet by avoiding slips, falls and the need for medical attention.

"If heating your home is a challenge, try and stay warm in the room or place you will spend most of your time by wearing layered clothing, taking warm drinks and food with some regular movement to help with circulation and keeping your muscles active. And if you are out clearing paths and your drive of snow an ice, please think about also doing so for your older neighbours to help make it easier for them to leave the house if they need to. That act of kindness will go a long way.”

With freezing temperatures and the potential for snow and ice, the Met Office’s WeatherReady campaign offers practical advice to help you prepare your home, garden, and daily routines for winter weather. For the latest warnings and forecasts, visit: Met Office warnings and advice

Read: 5 tips for staying safe in snow

Read: 4 tips for staying safe in ice

Read: Keeping your home warm this winter

Read: How cold weather affects your health

Read: What to do if you have a frozen or burst pipe

You can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store.