This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-42712588
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 16 | Version 17 |
|---|---|
| Forecasters issue new warning of persistent heavy snow | Forecasters issue new warning of persistent heavy snow |
| (35 minutes 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. |
| Scotland's Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said police were now warning against all travel in areas affected by the amber warning. | Scotland's Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said police were now warning against all travel in areas affected by the amber warning. |
| The warning came after hundreds of drivers were stranded overnight on the M74 between Scotland and England. | The warning came after hundreds of drivers were stranded overnight on the M74 between Scotland and England. |
| Many drivers were stuck for up to 11 hours on the motorway in South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway after HGVs blocked the lanes. | Many drivers were stuck for up to 11 hours on the motorway in South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway after HGVs blocked the lanes. |
| Mountain rescue teams were sent to help drivers trapped in cars at Millbank and Beattock, checking they were warm and had adequate supplies. | Mountain rescue teams were sent to help drivers trapped in cars at Millbank and Beattock, checking they were warm and had adequate supplies. |
| A guide to travel warnings | A guide to travel warnings |
| Travel conditions are graded at four levels by police and transport officials depending on the severity of the weather. | Travel conditions are graded at four levels by police and transport officials depending on the severity of the weather. |
| 'Challenging conditions' | '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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| Overnight travel on the M74 was particularly difficult around junction 12 in South Lanarkshire southbound and between junctions 14 and 15 northbound. | Overnight travel on the M74 was particularly difficult around junction 12 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. | 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 apology | Minister's apology |
| Scotland's transport minister told MSPs everything possible had been done to keep traffic moving. | Scotland's transport minister told MSPs everything possible had been done to keep traffic moving. |
| Mr Yousaf said 162 gritters had been out on Scotland's roads on Tuesday night. | Mr Yousaf said 162 gritters had been out on Scotland's roads on Tuesday night. |
| 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. |
| On Wednesday, about 300 Scottish schools or nurseries were shut or partially closed as a result of the weather, affecting about 40,000 pupils. | |
| Scottish Borders Council said no schools would open in its area on Tuesday or Wednesday, with 15,000 pupils missing lessons and 26 schools were also shut in Dumfries and Galloway, affecting 4,000 students. | |
| In the Highland Council area, nearly 150 schools and nurseries were shut or partially closed, affecting 15,000 pupils. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |