North suffers as more snow falls on Scotland

Published on Wednesday 4 March 2009 10:33

SCOTLAND today bore the brunt of wintry weather that could bring almost a foot of snow to parts of the country.

Up to 10ins (25cm) of snow is forecast to settle in parts of the Highlands and Western Scotland, with other places across the country and the far north of England also seeing some hefty showers.

Glasgow and Edinburgh were already seeing snow settle on the ground overnight, making for hazardous driving conditions.

Dan Adamson, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said the wintry blast would be nowhere near as severe as the snow storms that battered many parts of the UK last month.

He said: "There's been a lot of snow across Scotland and the far north of England, but it's going to clear northern Scotland by tomorrow morning.

"Elsewhere it's just been raining."

The rest of the UK will be "changeable" for the next few days, with "some rain, some showers, but some drier periods in between", he said.

Snow and sleet fell overnight across central and western Scotland and the Highlands as temperatures hovered around freezing.

Motorists were warned of icy stretches on roads with some routes closed altogether.

Around 2in (5cm) of snow was recorded in Dalmally, Argyll and Bute, with an estimated 4in-5in (10cm-12cm) thought to have fallen in higher areas.

Traffic Scotland issued warnings on routes in Strathclyde, Grampian, the Highlands and Tayside.

Northern Constabulary said the A82 was closed at Glencoe and the A9 was badly affected by slush.

A high wind warning was issued for the Kessock Bridge.

Overnight, a woman had to be rescued from her car after it crashed into a tree on the M8 near junction 26.

She was taken to Glasgow's Southern General Hospital following the accident at 4.15am.

A driver escaped from his van when it crashed on the M74 at around 4.30am, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said.

Temperatures were expected to plummet further tonight but the skies will remain clear.

Matt Dobson, of Meteogroup, said: "Tonight will be interesting – clear but bitterly cold.

"Temperatures will fall quite quickly.

"Today western areas will see rain and sleet but the snow will ease.

"With around 10-12cm having fallen in higher areas, the ski resorts will have had a bit of a boost."

• Have you been affected by the snow? Send you pictures to [e-mail]