It's St Andrew's Day in Edinburgh. There's fresh snow and ice on the ground. The penguins are up and about. Students are preparing to march. And the airport is closed again.
The airport's typically curt update on its web site at 10am says: "Due to heavy snow fall, Edinburgh Airport is currently closed. However, we anticipate the runway will re-open at 11:00. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport, and to contact their airline for further information.”
The airport announced that it was open, briefly, earlier this morning after snow was cleared from the runway, but the snowfall was too heavy and it had to close again.
In its most recent tweet, Edinburgh Airport said it would now open by 12 noon.
After the airport recently introduced a passenger drop-off fee, some people must have been worried that if their car was marooned at the airport because of the weather, they'd be liable for punitive parking fees.
“Don't worry about your car at Edinburgh - you won't be charged extra for your parking if you been delayed due to snow,“ tweeted BAA, who run the airport.
Go carefully, if you go at all
With the fresh snowfalls overnight and temperatures below freezing in Edinburgh roads, railway and transport services remain unpredictable.
For example, Scotrail's services between both Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street, and Edinburgh are being disrupted by the weather: “Short notice cancellations can be expected:” the train company warns.
The M8 has been experiencing big delays and tailbacks due to the snow.
Keep following those traffic updates (Edinburgh traffic on Twitter feed and Forth One's round-up of disruptions).
March of the Students
The students, who have been huddled together for five nights in Appleton Tower, in defiance of the chilly wave of austerity measures, are breaking cover.
They are joining today's anti-cuts protest march on the Scottish Parliament which starts at Bristo Square at 11.30pm, in what they are calling “Britain's biggest snow ball fight”. The march is part of another day of student demonstrations up and down the country.
The Edinburgh University group are part of a string of occupations across campuses in Britain, and have been ensconced in Appleton Tower since Wednesday night.
"Let’s march on Holyrood!" says the group in a release, adding "Wrap up really warm, bring snacks, flasks etc. as it will be VERY COLD and could involve a lot of standing still. Though we will try to reduce this with enetertainment! Lets keep warm and well fed! It will be a great day!"
School closures
As previously reported, council schools are closed again today, and may be closed for a third day tomorrow if conditions are still deemed unsafe.
Other schools and colleges closed today are George Heriot's, George Watsons, Mary Erskines and Stewarts Melville (Senior &Junior) schools.
Also closed are: Telford College and Waterfront Nursery, Stevenson College, Jewel & Esk College (both campuses), Edinburgh Academy, The Queen Margaret University, The Rudolf Steiner School, Little Flyers Nursery at Ingleston, Edinburgh Napier University, and the Heriot-Watt Edinburgh Campus.