Trapped in deep freeze as temperature plunges
Warning ice could badly affect travel
SCOTLAND is facing yet more treacherous travel conditions today as much of the country is plunged into a deep freeze.
The nation has been gripped by snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures since late on Christmas Day – and yesterday the Met Office issued a further warning of widespread ice which could affect thousands of journeys this morning.
It will hit the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Argyll, the Borders and most of the nation’s islands until around noon. Forecasters said inland areas were likely to be hardest hit.
They also issued a yellow ‘be aware’ warning of heavy snow in southern Scotland overnight tonight. Met Office forecaster Helen Chivers said: ‘We are currently operating beneath a cold northerly wind.’
She said although there would be lots of sunshine for many parts today there would also be widespread frost – hence the ice warning. Friday’s warning for southern Scotland includes the prediction of sleet at low levels and up to four inches of snow lying on higher ground.
The sobering forecast follows a day of severe weather-related challenges yesterday.
The RAC said it saw a 15 to 20 per cent spike in breakdown call-outs compared with this time last year, with Glasgow among the worst affected areas.
Pensioners shivered in sub-zero temperatures in Torphichen in West Lothian after the gas supply was cut off to 250 customers due to a fault in a local governor station.
A spokesman for gas distributor SGN said: ‘Our engineers are working to restore supplies as quickly as possible. We have brought in extra resources from across Scotland to assist with our response.
‘For safety reasons, we are visiting all affected customers to turn off their gas supply at their meter.’
By 4pm yesterday it said it had begun the process of restoring supplies in the area.
ScotRail services were also disrupted by two major signalling failures at Rutherglen, near Glasgow, and between Edinburgh’s Haymarket and Waverley stations.
‘Major disruption’ was reported on the lines out of the capital to the Borders, Fife and Aberdeen and Glasgow services to Dunblane, Stirling, Alloa and Helensburgh.
Carterhouse in Roxburghshire recorded the lowest temperature in the country yesterday morning at -8.5C (16F).
On the roads, many struggled even to get their vehicles started. RAC spokesman Pete Williams said the service expected to attend more than 9,000 breakdowns across Britain by the end of the day.
He said: ‘Our patrols are rescuing members who have run into difficulty in snow and ice which is causing treacherous driving conditions resulting in some minor
‘Patrols rescuing drivers’ ‘Conditions will get worse
accidents. We are also seeing a significant increase in pothole related damage, so punctures, wheel damage, steering and suspension problems.
‘The toxic combination of high water levels, ice and snow is causing many road surfaces to crumble causing potholes to open up. Flat and exhausted batteries are another major cause of breakdown or simply non-start for many as the icy and damp conditions play havoc with vehicles’ electrics.
‘Many drivers who haven’t used their car for several days over Christmas are finding that it doesn’t have the charge to turn over the engine and they are left stuck on the drive or in the street.
‘With more snow forecast and plummeting temperatures we expect the hazardous driving conditions will get worse tonight.’
The AA said the breakdowns were significantly greater than a normal Wednesday in winter and said hotspots included Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester.
South of the Border snow and ice caused havoc, and 4,000 homes in the Midlands, south-west England and Wales were left without power.