Scotland braced for -11C Arctic blasts

Published on Sunday 20 December 2009 22:18

ARCTIC blasts are forecast to send temperatures plunging as low as -11C in Scotland this week with the odds on a white Christmas narrowing daily.

&#149 Snow in Aviemore

The warning of impending severe cold came as heavy snow was already causing havoc on roads across Scotland last night. Aircraft, trains and ferries were also hit by snow and ice yesterday, while the conditions forced Edinburgh Zoo to remain closed.

Forecasters predicted further snow over southern Scotland and the Northern and Western Isles today.

The Met Office said there was a moderate risk of severe weather affecting Scotland, with up to 2in (5cm) of snow falling in heavy showers, and up to three times that on the hills.

Black ice and a jack-knifed lorry led to long delays for motorists last night on the A80 by Castlecary in the Central Belt.

A build-up of snow caused problems on the M73 and a third major route, the M74, was down to one lane for a large stretch in Dumfries and Galloway.

Central Scotland police were reporting "mayhem" on the roads last night, with tailbacks on the M80 and A803.

Several routes in West Lothian were only passable with care and police in the Highlands advised drivers not to travel unless strictly necessary.

The snow is expected to continue until tomorrow, with temperatures plummeting to -5C in Edinburgh tomorrow night and -10C in Inverness and -11C in Aviemore on Christmas Eve.

Inverness Airport was shut for the first time in years yesterday because of heavy snow, and there were cancellations at Edinburgh Airport as staff cleared the runways.

Inverness Airport manager Graeme Bell said: "There has been a lot of disruption, with four EasyJet and Flybe flights cancelled. The fire service have been clearing the snow since 8am, but it fell as fast as it could be cleared. It is very rare to have to close the runway – we have not had snow like this for years."

Network Rail said Glasgow to London trains on the west coast main line were halted yesterday afternoon after a "massive icicle" fell from a bridge on to overhead power lines between Lockerbie and Beattock.

Separate problems with overhead wires near Partick in Glasgow – one of Network Rail's busiest stations – forced the cancellation of cross-city trains on some lines for much of the day.

Passengers were transferred to buses between city centre stations and Anniesland in the north-west of the city, causing delays of up to 45 minutes.

Caledonian MacBrayne cancelled all ferry sailings between Stornoway and Ullapool because of the bad weather and a heavy sea swell. Disruption on the roads included high winds on the Skye Bridge.

The AA said it had attended about 7,000 breakdowns by lunchtime – almost as many as it would do for the whole of a normal Sunday. A spokesman said: "We would still advise against unnecessary travel in affected areas, but if people do venture out they should stick to main roads, as many minor roads are treacherous, if not impassable."

Edinburgh Zoo, normally open every day of the year, remained shut yesterday because ice made steep paths around the enclosures too dangerous.

It was the second time in a month that extreme weather had kept visitors from the park, after high winds caused problems on 25 November.

Met Office forecaster Chris Bulmer thought a white Christmas was on the cards. He said: "We are likely to see snow somewhere across the UK on Christmas Day, although giving the extent of it is trickier." He added that snow looked more probable in Scotland than in Southern England: "It will be colder than normal at Christmas, which gives an increased chance compared to previous years.

"Low pressure should be in position, although how far north or south it forms is another matter."

Michael Dukes, forecast manager for MeteoGroup UK, said it was not yet known if milder weather would move in before or after Christmas. He said: "This is very cold Arctic weather from the North Sea. Snow showers are going to continue to threaten north-west England and much of Scotland. Generally speaking, the northern part of the country will see temperatures of between -1C and -4C, with -3C to -8C in the southern half.

"The cold spell is going to continue today and tomorrow and but there will probably be rather less in the way of snow."

Britain's last official white Christmas was five years ago, with snow in Scotland, the Midlands, north-east and south-west England, and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland.

Increased betting on a white Christmas has led to bookmakers further shortening their odds. A spokesman for William Hill said: "The nationwide gamble on a white Christmas has meant that we have cut the price of snow on Christmas Day for nine days in a row, with London now 2/1 from an original 8/1. Aberdeen is 5/4 to have snow, with Glasgow 13/8."

Ladbrokes announced odds of 11/8 for Glasgow and 5/6 for Aberdeen.

The odds for London yesterday were the shortest price offered with five days to go in more than 30 years. William Hill said it had received an estimated 22,000 bets on a white Christmas.

North-west England, the Pennines and Northern Ireland were the other parts of the UK to see the worst of the snow yesterday.

Snow and ice caused more disruption to flights with several airports, including Belfast, temporarily closed for part of the day. Flights in and out of Manchester Airport were delayed for 90 minutes yesterday morning because of heavy snow.

EasyJet warned people whose flights were cancelled to avoid going to already busy airports in the hope of making alternative arrangements and said there was "little availability over the next few days".

And the A19 in Stockton-on-Tees was closed yesterday after a lorry jackknifed, spilling 50 gallons of diesel.

Some 330 homes in eastern England have been without power since Thursday because of snow, according to supplier EDF Energy.

More on the severe cold weather:

Thousands stranded as Eurostar cancels all services for second day

Snowstorm leaves five dead in US