A96 closed overnight between Colpy and Huntly
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The A96 will remain completely closed to all traffic between Colpy and Huntly due to drifting snow.
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "Please do not pass the Road Closed signs and attempt to drive through."
Severe winds have led to treacherous driving conditions and numerous roads across Aberdeenshire and the north-east remain totally impassable due to drifting snow.
With high winds expected to continue overnight and for most of tomorrow road users are urged not to travel unless their journeys are absolutely essential.
Gritting crews have had to concentrate their efforts throughout today trying to keep main routes open, but this has not always been possible, and many main roads remain shut or impassable.
Snow plough teams and local farmers throughout Aberdeenshire have also been called upon to rescue stranded motorists whose vehicles have been stuck in the drifts.
The council have had 56 gritters and 31 mini-tractors deployed since early this morning and are also extremely grateful to well over 100 farmers who have also been trying to keep roads open.
As efforts concentrated on keeping the main roads open, most side roads would not have been looked at today by gritting teams and it will take some time to clear the drifts and reopen roads over the next few days.
Those planning to venture out are therefore asked to be patient while this work is ongoing.
Police Scotland’s current travel advice for Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Angus is that there is a ‘high risk of disruption and if you do travel you are likely to experience significant delays.
Congestion caused by vehicles may restrict the emergency services, recovery vehicles, gritters and snowploughs from providing essential assistance or from clearing roads’.
Tonight’s weather forecast is for further snow flurries and severe drifting continuing but there is also a significant risk of ice later tonight.
With outbreaks of rain, sleet and perhaps more snow edging in from the west and falling onto sub-zero roads, this will bring a significant risk of ice.
It is expected to turn drier tomorrow morning, but drifting is expected to continue in places exposed to high winds.
Roads crews are continuing to carry out treatment this afternoon and evening on the sections of the main routes that remain open, and treatments will resume again at 5.40am tomorrow.
The list of roads that are currently closed due to drifting include: A93 Glenshee (at snow gates), A97 Lumsden – Rhynie and Brydock – Blacklaw, A98 Macduff - New Pitsligo, A939 Lecht (at snow gates), A939 Gairnshiel - Colnabaichin, A941 Cabrach, A948 New Deer – Cuminestown, B974 Cairn O’Mount (at snow gates), B976 Crathie to Gairnshiel, B9031 Macduff – Gardenstown, B9030 Auchnagatt to Stuartfield.
Many other roads will be closed, impassable, or only passable with extreme care as conditions can change rapidly.
Roads that appear clear in some sections can quickly change to white-out conditions and impassable in other’s sections due to drifting.
