Gridlock...with more to come
Siberian blast piles on the agony with a second day of icy misery
SCOTS are facing another day of widespread travel chaos today as the Siberian superstorm dumps another 11 inches of snow on the already frozen country.
The unprecedented red alert for snow and ice has been extended into this morning – with warnings that major roads will be impassable, communities will be cut off and public transport will again grind to a halt.
Yesterday’s snowfall was expected to freeze solid when temperatures plunged overnight, while Met Office officials expected strong winds to cause ‘significant drifting of snow’.
Today’s alert – put in place to warn of widespread disruption and risk to life – covers Strathclyde, Lothian, Tayside, Fife, the Central Belt and parts of South-East Scotland and the Borders until 10am.
Snow up to 11in deep is expected in the affected areas, with as much as 15in on higher ground by mid-morning. Schools across the Central Belt are likely to be closed for a second day.
It is the first time a red alert for snow has ever been issued in Scotland, and only the second time anywhere in the UK.
The warning for today states: ‘Heavy snow showers and drifting of lying snow in the strong easterly winds will become more widespread across the area later on Wednesday afternoon, through the evening and overnight into Thursday.
‘Roads will become blocked by deep snow, with many stranded vehicles and passengers. Long delays and cancellations on bus, rail and air travel are expected.
‘Some communities could become cut off for several days. [Expect] interruptions to power supplies and other services.’
Trains, flights and bus services in the affected areas are likely to grind to a standstill for a second day, while motorists have been told not to travel in affected areas unless absolutely necessary.
The Siberian weather system dubbed the Beast from the East caused major disruption yesterday, with more than 1,600 schools shut and transport badly hit.
The rail network is expected to face a second day of chaos after trains on major routes, including the West Coast Main Line, were cancelled because of the snow.
An amber warning for snow and ice is in place for tomorrow, while yellow warnings have been issued for Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures not set to rise above 0C until Saturday.
But while the wintry weather caused misery for thousands of commuters, others enjoyed a day off in the snow.
Members of Glasgow University’s Canoe Club took to the slopes of the city’s Kelvingrove Park, in the west end, and went sledging in their kayaks. Several were sent airborne after hitting bumps on the hills.
In Dunkeld, Perthshire, a family of deer was filmed wandering through the village.
The deer – thought to be an adult and her fawns – were spotted on Bridge Street and the clip, filmed by resident Alan Taylor, has been viewed online more than 120,000 times.
In Glasgow, one brave commuter was even spotted skiing to work.
He was caught on camera as he made his way down Alexandra Parade, in the city’s East End.
South of the Border, a man in his sixties died after he fell into a lake in Welling, south-east London, yesterday afternoon.
Meanwhile, a boy was rescued by firefighters from a frozen lake near Basildon, Essex. He tried to run to the middle of the lake and became trapped when the ice broke up.
Elsewhere, the weather system has had a devastating effect across Europe.
Twenty-four people have been killed across countries including Spain, France and Romania.
Cities across the continent have been providing emergency shelter and relief to rough sleepers, who have accounted for most of the deaths as temperatures fell as low as -24C in parts of Germany and -29C in Estonia.
‘Communities could be cut off for days’