Aberdeenshire School Closures: Severe Weather Disrupts Education Across Region

Major Incident Declared as Schools Remain Shut

Schools across Aberdeenshire have faced unprecedented disruption in January 2026, with every school in the region remaining closed for three consecutive days as the council declared a ‘major incident’. The widespread closures have affected all schools and council-run nurseries, leaving thousands of families scrambling to arrange childcare as severe winter weather continues to grip the northeast of Scotland.

Amber Weather Warnings Drive Closure Decisions

All schools and council-run nurseries across Aberdeenshire were closed following a further amber weather warning for snow across north and northeast Scotland. Over a 24-hour period, accumulations of 2-5cm of snow were expected widely, with closer to 10cm for roads in the north. The decision to implement blanket closures, which began on Monday 5th January, was driven by safety concerns affecting schools’ ability to open safely.

Extended Disruption and Ongoing Challenges

Many children across the north and north-east were yet to return to school after the Christmas holidays due to the severe weather. All schools in the region were closed on Friday, January 9, marking nearly a week of continuous disruption to education. The council’s response included mobilising over 100 contractor and farmer ploughs for snow clearing operations, whilst focusing road treatment efforts on main routes to ensure vital deliveries could continue.

Return to Normal Operations

As weather conditions began to improve, decisions on school openings returned to being made locally by each school. Parents were advised to check the council’s dedicated page for updates and monitor Groupcall or email communications. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by rural Scottish communities during extreme winter weather and the critical importance of robust emergency planning for educational services. As climate patterns continue to evolve, Aberdeenshire Council’s experience may provide valuable lessons for managing future weather-related disruption to schools.