Don’t let the Beast from the East make you daft as a brush.. like him
IT’S HERE .. BEAST FROM THE EAST BRINGS SNOWSTORMS AND CHAOS
Wrap up warm, stay safe and please don’t be tempted to go loony-dooking folks
Stay at home warning as schools shut and drivers expect worst
SCOTLAND is “on the cusp” of extreme weather warnings today as the Beast from the East threatens more misery for commuters. Up to 16in of snow was forecast in some areas. And Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said an amber “be aware” warning could be upgraded to red, signalling treacherous conditions on the roads.
Very few parts of Scotland were expected to be spared the bone-chilling effects of the Siberian weather bomb.
Last night, amber warnings were in force for today and into tomorrow in Strathclyde, Lothian and Borders, Central, Tayside, Fife, Grampian, Highlands and south-west Scotland.
Yousaf said travel should be avoided in areas covered by the alert.
He added: “There is a possibility that the amber warning could, in some areas, be upgraded to a red.
“It’s a warning for snow that we have never seen since the modern system has come into place in Scotland.
“We are on the strongest possible amber warning – and right on the cusp of potentially becoming a red.
“That means a likelihood of a high impact that could be just treacherous.”
All schools and nurseries in the East Renfrewshire and Falkirk council areas were shut today.
Schools in the Borders were also closed and may remain shut tomorrow.
Weatherman Sean Batty urged Scots to work from home.
The TV forecaster tweeted: “For those of you in central and eastern Scotland that can work from home on Wednesday and Thursday, I would seriously consider it.”
The mercury plummeted to -8.5C in Altnaharra in the
Highlands overnight into yesterday, with snow and ice causing problems for drivers on some routes.
A handful of schools in Aberdeenshire were closed.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Team to ensure the country is prepared for the worst.
Today’s conditions were expected to bring disruption to trains, planes and ferries.
The Met Office predicted 2-4in of snow will have fallen in eastern and central Scotland by tomorrow.
The wind chill factor will make it feel like -15C in some areas.
The chief forecaster’s assessment said: “Snow showers will bring variable snow cover, but parts of Scotland are expected to see the most frequent snow showers from this morning to Thursday afternoon.
“Where showers become organised, most likely across Scotland and over the hills of northern England, some places are likely to have an additional 15-25 cm of snow, locally as much as 40cm. Strong winds will lead to drifting of snow.”
The amber warnings were set to last until 6pm tomorrow, with the snow expected to extend further west to cover parts of Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, north Ayrshire and Dunbartonshire.
Traffic Scotland issued a series of warnings yesterday. Their guidance for Central, Tayside and Fife said there was potential for travel delays on roads, with the possibility of stranded vehicles and passengers and delays or cancellations to rail and air travel.
They added: “Some rural communities could become cut off. Power cuts may also occur and other services, such as mobile phones, may be affected.”
Police also warned road users to prepare for the worst.
Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, head of road policing at Police Scotland, said yesterday: “I would urge drivers across Scotland to start to take extra care on the roads.
“Drivers should make sure they are prepared for their journey, with warm clothing, food and drink, sufficient fuel and a charged mobile phone.
“Consider if you really need to travel when conditions are poor.” AN AMAZON boss has defended high delivery charges for customers in the Highland and islands.
Lesley Smith, Amazon’s UK and Ireland director of public policy, told MPs: “I think there is a difference between what is excessive and what is a small business to trying to cover the cost.”