Hundreds of schools expect to remain closed today across the UK with 400 in Scotland alone as a result of snow from the Beast from the East. There is more snow forecast and Scotland is on the verge of being put under a red weather warning – the highest warning available.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said amber alerts for snow and freezing winds from the early hours of Wednesday could be changed to red for extreme weather in certain areas, with motorists urged not to travel. East Dunbartonshire Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Falkirk Council, Fife Council, Scottish Borders Council, Stirling Council and East Renfrewshire Council announced all schools in their areas will be closed on Wednesday due to potential of dangerous conditions.
Mr Yousaf told BBC Radio Scotland: ‘There is a possibility that the amber warning could be in some areas upgraded to a red. ‘That is a warning for snow that we have never seen since the modern system has come into place in Scotland, that’s what the Met Office tell me. Closed schools
The bad weather has affected the Tube in London - the Central Line is suspended between Epping and Woodford in both directions.
The weather features heavily on the front pages again today.
The Daily Star goes with “Snowmageddon”, The Express: “Killer freeze to get worse”, the Mirror: “Rage of the beast” and Metro has the simple splash: “The Beast”.
‘We are right on the cusp, we are at the strongest possible amber warning, and right on the cusp of potentially becoming a red. ‘That means a high likelihood of a high impact so that could be not just treacherous but frankly dangerous if you travel.’ Forecasters said the entire east coast, central belt and as far west as Greenock will be hit – while the worst affected areas could see up to 40cm of snow and a wind chill of minus 10C. Police Scotland has urged motorists in affected areas not to travel by road, however other transport services are likely to be impacted. A red weather warning means a high potential of ‘widespread damage’, travel and power disruption and risk to life. Met Office advice for such alerts is to ‘avoid dangerous areas and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities’.
As the so-called ‘Beast from the East’ hit Scotland on Tuesday, travel routes saw disruption caused by difficult driving conditions while some areas had power cuts.
Giving a forecast for Wednesday and Thursday north of the border, Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: ‘With the snow coming increasingly aligned into bands accompanied by strong winds there is the risk of blizzards and the risk of really significant snow accumulations building up – 5cm to 10cm widely (in the amber area) with 15cm to 25cm locally and the potential for the hills to see 40cm of snowfall building up by the end of Thursday.
‘Maximum temperatures on Wednesday will be barely above freezing and adding in that keen easterly wind it will feel more like minus 10C.’
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