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Forecasters issue new warning of persistent heavy snow Forecasters issue new warning of persistent heavy snow
(about 1 hour later)
Forecasters have issued a fresh warning of persistent heavy snow for southern Scotland and north east England.Forecasters have issued a fresh warning of persistent heavy snow for southern Scotland and north east England.
A Met Office amber "be prepared" alert is now in place from 21:00 on Wednesday until 05:00 on Thursday.A Met Office amber "be prepared" alert is now in place from 21:00 on Wednesday until 05:00 on Thursday.
Hundreds of drivers who spent the night stranded on the main route between Scotland and England have resumed their journey. Scotland's Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said police were now warning against all travel in areas affected by the amber warning.
Traffic Scotland said it was an improving picture on the M74 with vehicles moving, albeit slowly. The warning came after hundreds of drivers were stranded overnight on the M74 between Scotland and England.
Public transport has been disrupted and schools will remain closed in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Many drivers were stuck for up to 11 hours on the motorway in South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway after HGVs blocked the lanes.
More than 200 Scottish schools or nurseries are shut or partially closed, affecting more than 20,000 pupils. Mountain rescue teams were sent to help drivers trapped in cars at Millbank and Beattock, checking they were warm and had adequate supplies.
The upgraded Met Office warning said travel delays were likely on roads with a risk that some vehicles and passengers could become stranded. A guide to travel warnings
Travel conditions are graded at four levels by police and transport officials depending on the severity of the weather.
'Challenging conditions'
Mr Yousaf apologised to anyone who had been stuck on the M74 and said it was as a result of "extremely challenging conditions", with persistent snow at a level that had not been seen for a number of years.
He said the problems on the M74 had been caused by HGVs losing traction in the icy conditions.
The transport minister said the police had upgraded the travel warning for the south and south west of Scotland to a Level 4 on Wednesday night, meaning all trunk roads should be avoided.
The upgraded Met Office warning said travel delays were likely on roads, with a risk that some vehicles and passengers could become stranded.
Delays or cancellations are likely to rail and air travel. Some rural communities are likely to become cut off and power cuts are "probable".Delays or cancellations are likely to rail and air travel. Some rural communities are likely to become cut off and power cuts are "probable".
Less severe yellow warnings remain in place with snow and ice forecast until Friday evening, with Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England likely to be affected.Less severe yellow warnings remain in place with snow and ice forecast until Friday evening, with Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England likely to be affected.
The worst problems overnight were on the M74 in Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway, with the motorway completely shut at times. Overnight travel on the M74 was particularly difficult around junction 12 in South Lanarkshire southbound and between junctions 14 and 15 northbound.
Mountain rescue teams were sent to help drivers trapped in cars at Millbank and Beattock, checking they were warm and had adequate supplies.
In North Lanarkshire a lorry rolled down a hill, smashing into other vehicles and a fence, after two workmen got out to help clear the road. No-one was injured.
Disruption was also reported on the M62 trans-Pennine motorway, although by Wednesday morning traffic was able to move.
There have also been some school closures in Yorkshire. There are about 30 schools in Bradford which are to remain closed or have opened late.
Travel on the M74 was particularly difficult around junction 12 of the M74 in South Lanarkshire southbound and between junctions 14 and 15 northbound.
One driver stuck on the northbound carriageway of the M74, Fergus McCann, said the impatience of other drivers had made things worse.One driver stuck on the northbound carriageway of the M74, Fergus McCann, said the impatience of other drivers had made things worse.
He told the BBC: "There's been a fair bit of impatient driving going on.He told the BBC: "There's been a fair bit of impatient driving going on.
"People are in one queue, then people are cutting out and trying to go down lanes that clearly are not for driving on."People are in one queue, then people are cutting out and trying to go down lanes that clearly are not for driving on.
"It's not a surprise that you're getting a few hundred yards down the road and you're seeing them facing the wrong way.""It's not a surprise that you're getting a few hundred yards down the road and you're seeing them facing the wrong way."
Steve Harris became stranded on the M74 at 17:30 GMT and was still stuck between junctions 11 and 12 more than eight hours later.Steve Harris became stranded on the M74 at 17:30 GMT and was still stuck between junctions 11 and 12 more than eight hours later.
"I've not moved really in the last four hours," he told BBC Radio 5 live at about 03:00 GMT."I've not moved really in the last four hours," he told BBC Radio 5 live at about 03:00 GMT.
"I've managed to get out of my car a couple of times to stretch my legs. The snow is probably between four and six inches deep around the cars.""I've managed to get out of my car a couple of times to stretch my legs. The snow is probably between four and six inches deep around the cars."
Meanwhile, in North Lanarkshire a lorry rolled down a hill, smashing into other vehicles and a fence, after two workmen got out to help clear the road. No-one was injured.
Minister's apologyMinister's apology
Scotland's transport minister, Humza Yousaf, apologised to motorists who had been stuck in their vehicles overnight, but insisted everything possible had been done to keep traffic moving. Scotland's transport minister told MSPs everything possible had been done to keep traffic moving.
He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programmed: "We had hundreds of patrol vehicles and gritter vehicles out in the days before and during." Mr Yousaf said 162 gritters had been out on Scotland's roads on Tuesday night.
Mr Yousaf said closing the motorway would have seen traffic diverted onto local roads, leading to pressure on those routes as well.
He said: "What we're trying to do is to keep the traffic flow going. What happened last night was that as soon as a patch of road was cleared, it was very clear that as soon as people started moving they lost traction again."
Responding to reports that some councils had already spent their winter roads budget, he said the Scottish government was willing to have a "conversation" with local authorities on the matter.Responding to reports that some councils had already spent their winter roads budget, he said the Scottish government was willing to have a "conversation" with local authorities on the matter.
Several hundred schools across Scotland are closed because of the weather conditions. On Wednesday, more than 200 Scottish schools or nurseries were shut or partially closed as a result of the weather, affecting more than 20,000 pupils.
Scottish Borders Council has said no schools will open in its area on Tuesday or Wednesday and 26 schools are shut in Dumfries and Galloway. Scottish Borders Council said no schools would open in its area on Tuesday or Wednesday and 26 schools were shut in Dumfries and Galloway.
In the Highland Council area, more than 150 schools and nurseries are shut or partially closed, affecting 15,000 pupils. In the Highland Council area, more than 150 schools and nurseries were shut or partially closed, affecting 15,000 pupils.
Nearly 30 schools and nurseries are closed in South Lanarkshire and there are also a number of schools shut in East Ayrshire, Stirling, Falkirk and Perth and Kinross. Nearly 30 schools and nurseries were closed in South Lanarkshire and there are also a number of schools shut in East Ayrshire, Stirling, Falkirk and Perth and Kinross.
Snow was still a hazard on urban roads at the start of the rush hour.
A guide to travel warnings
Travel conditions are graded at four levels by police and transport officials depending on the severity of the weather.
Earlier, police in Dumfries and Galloway warned against "all but essential travel".
Dumfries & Galloway Virtual Operations Support Team - which was set-up to respond to the weather issues in the region - said: "We are working to clear the stuck vehicles and clear the crashes.
"Please remain in your vehicle and signal the mountain rescue team or police if you need any help or contact us via 999."
Scottish Fire and Rescue's station manager in Dumfries and Galloway said motorists had been driving "too close behind me" on his way to a crash, despite "blizzard conditions".
Have you been affected by snow in your area? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by snow in your area? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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