UPDATE - England under amber cold-health alert as schools remain closed in Scotland due to snow, ice

UPDATES WITH AMBER COLD-HEALTH ALERT; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Hundreds of schools in northern Scotland will remain closed for a second day, while authorities on Tuesday extended the duration of the current amber cold-health alert for England amid an ongoing snow and ice warning.

The UK's weather agency Met Office has issued an amber warning for snow for large parts of northeastern and northern Scotland from 1100-1900GMT, as forecasters warn of up to 15 centimeters (nearly 6 inches) of snow.

Amid ongoing adverse weather, all schools in Aberdeenshire are closed, with dozens also closed in Aberdeen. In Moray, a large number of schools and nurseries are also closed, the Scottish STV channel reported.

Also, schools in Shetland and Orkney will remain shut after students enjoyed an extra day of holiday on Monday after the festive break due to the weather.

The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning of snow and ice from Scotland’s central belt south down beyond the border with England until 1100GMT.

Meanwhile, the lowest temperature overnight was recorded as minus 11.2C in Dalwhinnie.

Authorities warned that driving conditions could become dangerous.

Icy conditions disrupted transportation across Scotland on Monday as National Rail said train services in northern Scotland would be disrupted until the end of the day on Tuesday.

First Minister John Swinney said that efforts are underway to keep transport moving and public services open.

- All regions of England to remain under amber alert until Jan. 11

Separately, disruptive weather conditions could hit parts of southern England during the week, as an Atlantic low-pressure front meets an Arctic airmass over the country.

In a statement, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that the amber cold-health alert has been extended for all regions of England until 1200GMT on Sunday, Jan. 11.

"As of Tuesday 6 January, UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have extended the duration of the current amber cold-health alert," said the statement.

Agostinho Sousa, the UKHSA's head of extreme events and health protection, urged people to check in on friends, family, and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to the cold and make sure that they are able to keep themselves warm during this period of cold weather.

"The current cold snap is now expected to last at least until this weekend, according to Met Office forecasts, and we know that prolonged exposure to low temperatures can have a severe impact on people’s health, especially if they’re older or have serious health conditions," Sousa said in the statement.