The snow gates A93 Braemar-Glenshee, A939, Tomintoul-Cockbridge and the B974 Cairn o’ Mount-Fettercairn have been closed.
The weather has already caused issues for many drivers around the country(Image: GettyImages)
Travellers are facing travel chaos as snow and ice warnings are in place, with several road closures and train cancellations due to adverse weather conditions.
ScotRail announced several train cancellations between Wick and Inverness, while a number of roads in the region have also been closed on January 3.
The Met Office warned that heavy snow showers could leave some rural communities cut off, as well as a risk of power cuts in some areas. It warned that higher areas of the country could see as much as 40 cm of snow as heavy snowfall continues to blanket the country.
Nearly all of Scotland above Edinburgh and Glasgow will continue to fall under a yellow snow and ice warning until 12pm on January 5. The Met Office warned those in the region that travel disruption at the weekend was likely. There was also a risk of injury from falls on icy surfaces, the forecaster said.
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Arctic air has plunged much of the UK into sub-zero temperatures, with nearly -6C being recorded at Loch Ness on January 2.
Daytime temperatures are expected to remain in the low single figures for much of the country on Saturday, and below freezing in parts of northern Scotland.
ScotRail has cancelled several trains due to the weather(Image: Getty Images)
ScotRail announced several cancellations on Saturday morning including in Wick and Inverness. Avanti West Coast said overrunning engineering work between Carlisle and Lockerbie meant all lines to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh were blocked.
The snow gates on the A93 Braemar-Glenshee, A939, Tomintoul-Cockbridge and the B974 Cairn o’ Mount-Fettercairn have been closed.
Six Scottish Professional Football League matches have also been called off after weather resulted in the games to be called off with heavy snow stopping Cove Rangers v Montrose and Elgin City v East Kilbride .
The Dunfermline Athletic and Ross County match on Saturday has also been postponed because of a frozen pitch, alongside Hamilton Academical v East Fife and Stirling Albion v Annan Athletic.
Met Office chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks said: “Arctic air and brisk northerly winds are gripping the UK as we start the new year.
“Snow and ice warnings remain in force for many areas, with the risk of heavy snow showers, especially across northern Scotland and over higher ground elsewhere, though many inland areas will stay largely sunny and clear.
“Bitterly cold conditions will persist through the weekend and into next week, with daytime temperatures struggling to rise above freezing for some, and overnight lows dipping to minus double figures in places.
“We urge people to stay weather aware, keep up to date with the forecasts and plan ahead as icy roads and slippery surfaces are likely.”
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