With the wintry weather in Shetland expected to continue for the next 24 hours, road conditions across the isles continue to be challenging.
Gritting crews, helped by local contractors, have today been clearing many roads of drifts that built up overnight. Heavy snow showers this morning have added to their task but more roads are now passable with extreme care. Minor roads particularly are still blocked but efforts are underway to clear these too. Drivers are still being asked to travel only if essential and to plan their journeys carefully.
A thaw has begun already with temperatures rising slightly this afternoon but temperatures will dip below freezing again this evening and overnight. The combination of melting snow, showery rain and cold surfaces is forecast to lead to hazardous icy conditions by morning. The Met Office has a Yellow Warning of Ice in place for the North of Scotland, including Shetland, from 1700hrs today until 0900hrs tomorrow – Saturday 20th.
There are NO public bus services in Shetland today, and this will be reviewed tomorrow morning, depending on weather. Passengers intending to travel should check the Public Bus Voicebank on 01595 745744.
Inter-island ferry services continue to operate this afternoon, but disruption is possible. Any passengers intending to travel are asked to check the Voicebanks before travelling - www.shetland.gov.uk/ferrystatus
Anyone who needs urgent support across the weekend should call 01595 744468 (10am-4pm) or 01595 695611 (out of hours). This is the duty social work number and calls will be passed on to the appropriate Council or NHS staff.
Anyone with a community alarm in their home who needs some support, even if they’re worried responders may not be able to get to them, should not hesitate to use it and services will get in touch.
Shetland Emergency Planning Forum has met again today and will meet again as appropriate, providing updates and further public information where necessary.
** Update - 5pm ** Essy kert collections
Council staff will attempt household collections with the essy kert in Lerwick tomorrow morning (Saturday). On Sunday, they'll attempt collections in Scalloway, Nesting, Vidlin and Whalsay. These collections will be for the black bag collections that were missed earlier in the week due to snowy conditions.