Nearly 30 Highland schools closed as heavy snows blanket region
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TWENTY-seven Highland schools and nurseries were closed this morning after heavy snow blanketed the region overnight.
Some 1800 pupils are affected across the council area, with nine schools and nurseries in the Inverness area among those closed.
Schools and nurseries in Cannich, Cromarty, Daviot, Farr, Foyers, Strathdearn and Stratherrick have been closed because of the bad weather.
Cromarty Primary School, which was closed yesterday afternoon because of cuts to water, heating and power, also remains shut today.
For the latest on school closures in the region go to www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures
Elsewhere the A9 between Blair Atholl and Dalwhinnie was blocked for a time this morning following a collision, which is understood to have involved a lorry. One lane has now reopened.
The A9 north of Inverness was also experiencing disruption earlier this morning. A combination of a broken down lorry and heavy snow between Duncanston and Tore was causing delays, although the route is now understood to be clear.
And there have been reports of floodwater on the A82 between Drumnadrochit and Inverness.
Rail services were running well despite the snow, with no major delays being reported by Scotrail, Virgin Trains East Coast or the Caledonian Sleeper.
A yellow weather warning is also in force this morning for strong winds in the far north and around Moray Firth coastal areas.
Gusts of between 60-70mph are likely in the area, with the warning remaining in force until 6pm.
A further yellow warning, this time for snow, will begin just after midnight tonight and run until 2pm on Saturday. It will cover Inverness, the Moray, Beauly and Cromarty Firths and the far north.
"Showers of sleet and snow will continue," a Met Office spokesman said. "Further accumulations of 2 to 4cm of snow may affect lowland areas while high ground may see locally 5 to 10cm.
"Ice will be an additional hazard on untreated surfaces.
"Disruption to transport networks seems likely either due to snow or ice."
