Make sure you ride out the storm... Foot of snow and gales on way
STORM-HIT Britain is now on polar freeze alert as temperatures plunge, bringing widespread snow.
A bitter blast from the Arctic is set to sweep the nation, pushing some places below -10C (14F).
Wintry showers driven by strong winds left swathes of the country under a blanket of snow yesterday morning.
Drivers were stranded in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, as blizzard conditions ground traffic to a halt.
Transport networks around northern Britain battled disruption while severe weather forced school closures.
The Met Office has issued further snow and ice warnings across the region until tomorrow night with windy showers possible anywhere.
Britain was on storm alert again last night with strong winds forecast into this morning.
Fionn became the sixth named storm of the season on Tuesday night after smashing across Ireland and bringing disruption to parts of the UK.
The weather is expected to settle over the next few days although it will feel colder with hail, sleet and snow forecast around the UK.
Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: “There is the potential for winds of 70mph in exposed regions with gusts of 50 to 60mph likely more widely into the early hours of Thursday.
“An area of low pressure will also bring cold polar air and the risk of further snow to Dumfries and Galloway where the impact is likely to be greatest. Widespread frosts are forecast and while the heaviest snow will fall over high ground in the North, there is a widespread risk of wintry showers including hail or sleet and possibly reaching lower levels into the weekend. We expect overnight temperatures in minus double digits and while it will turn calmer it will remain unsettled in parts with an ongoing risk of snow.”
Gritters
The Met Office has issued a severe weather warnings for wind across central England this morning with gusts expected to touch 70mph.
A separate alert for heavy snow covers Scotland and northern England with up to eight inches likely to settle over high ground.
Mountain rescue teams and emergency gritters battled blizzard conditions on the M74 in Dumfries and Galloway on Tuesday night as severe weather led to road closures.
Traffic Scotland reported difficulties clearing routes due to jack-knifed lorries and treacherous conditions on the roads.
The M62 trans-Pennine motorway was badly affected while schools were closed in Scotland and Yorkshire.
Meanwhile in Scotland gritting lorries sporting names such as Sir Salter Scott, Ice Destroyer, and Jack and Frosty have become an internet sensation.
Followers have been able to watch their progress in keeping the traffic moving thanks to a social media app charting their efforts.
The fleet of 208 vehicles also includes Sir Andy Flurry, Luke Snowalker, Snow Queen, Fred and Ready Spready Go.
A spokesman for road maintenance provider BEAR Scotland said: “A few winters ago we got involved with a competition to help name some of our 32-ton gritters, and reached out to local primary schools in our areas to help us come up with some names for the vehicles.
“We now have the likes of Sprinkles, Mrs McGritter, Sir Grits-a-lot and Gritty Gritty Bang Bang out working on trunk roads across the north of Scotland.”