Motorists Warned As UK Is Put On Snow Alert

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Drivers have been warned of "treacherous conditions" on the roads with more snow forecast in the coming hours after heavy falls earlier.

It comes after four days of fierce storms which brought winds of more than 100mph and left thousands of properties without power.

The Met Office has upgraded its warning to amber - "be prepared" - across central and southern Scotland, while alerts remain in place for the rest of the country.

Heavy snow showers are expected on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, with roads, rail and bus travel all likely to be hit.

Network Rail has suspended four services in advance, while the AA said its crews are geared up for a busy 48 hours.

Many other parts of the UK are on snow alert, with frequent blasts of sleet and snow forecast and yellow warnings for Northern Ireland and most of England and Wales overnight.

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Gallery: Snow Falls On Britain

Motorists are urged to drive with care after snow caused disruption on many roads in Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK

More falls are expected followed by severe gales in coastal areas

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The last thing any driver wants is get stuck somewhere like the Yorkshire Dales - happily, this one isn't

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A road is closed at the Spittal of Glenshee in the Scottish Highlands after conditions worsened

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Snow is cleared from a pavement in Blaiirgowrie, Perthshire

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Sky News weather forecaster Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "The next 48 hours could see treacherous driving conditions for most of the UK and Ireland with the risk of ice and snow and then severe gales.

"Heavy snow will fall through the Central Belt, Fife and Perth and Kinross, with 10cm (4ins) or more over the highest ground.

"Elsewhere, a covering of snow is possible, even over the higher ground in southern England, whilst 2-5cm (2ins) is likely above 100m (330ft)."

On Tuesday more than 30 schools in the Highlands were closed, and in Dundee a car involved in a six-vehicle crash slid off the road and through the railings of a house.

In Harrow, a garage at the side of a house was badly damaged by a suspected mini tornado, which also struck homes and cars in surrounding roads.

London Fire Brigade watch manager Mark Ritson said: "The weather was quite severe leading up to it. It was sunny but then the sky went black, and there was thunder and lightening, hailstones and strong winds.

"The tornado whizzed through the area. Some roof tiles were blown off and caused minor damage to properties and cars in nearby roads but fortunately nobody was injured."

The Fire Brigade say it was called at 1314 and the incident was over at 1429.

Elsewhere, a bookseller at a Waterstones store in Blackpool was killed when a sign at the front fell on top of her. It is not clear if the accident, in Bank Hey Street, was weather-related.

The amber warning in Scotland follows last week's storms which left 120,000 properties without power. They have since been reconnected.

Road operator Bear Scotland said its staff will be working around the clock to keep routes clear, and Police Scotland asked drivers to consider if their journey was really necessary before setting out.

Chief Inspector Louise Blakelock said: If you do decide to travel, make sure your windscreens are completely free of snow and ice, and your lights are working and clean."

Network Rail said a limited number of train services will be suspended from noon on Thursday, when the worst of the winds are expected to strike.

There will be no trains on the Dumbarton Central to Helensburgh Central and Glasgow to Oban lines until 6pm on Thursday.

The Kyle to Dingwall and Kilwinning to Ardrossan line will also be suspended during this period.

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