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More snow and ice as UK awaits another freezing night Hope of weather respite as Army called in to clear snow
(about 9 hours later)
Another night of sub-zero temperatures lies ahead, with northern Scotland and eastern England expecting fresh snow. Forecasters have predicted a brief respite from the freezing weather, as the Army was called in to clear snow and ice in Edinburgh.
Forecasters predict Cumbria and central Scotland will see lows of around -12C (10F), while href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_warnings.html" >Met Office icy roads warnings affect much of the UK. Temperatures will reach 3C-5C (37F-41F) across many parts of the UK on Thursday afternoon and could be as high as 8C (46F) on Friday.
Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond has called on people to help neighbours by clearing icy side roads.Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond has called on people to help neighbours by clearing icy side roads.
And in Edinburgh, soldiers have begun helping the authorities clear snow and ice from the streets. The Met Office has weather warnings in place for icy roads in many areas.
Severe weather warnings for heavy snow remain in place for the far north of Scotland, with icy road alerts affecting all Scottish regions, Northern Ireland, the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber. 'Subtle change'
BBC weather forecaster Rob McElwee said there could also be a potential ice risk overnight in north Cornwall and west Devon, as well as a severe frost inland. The Army started working in Edinburgh on Wednesday night following a request for assistance from the city council.
Forecasters predict temperatures will rise on Thursday. However, that could present the problem of drizzle falling on frozen surfaces and leaving them treacherously icy when the air cools - particularly in Wales and the western side of England. Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland were out on the streets of the city within hours of approval being given by the Ministry of Defence.
It is understood that a team of five soldiers was deployed to a hospital to clear access to a boiler house for a delivery of fuel.
Another team shifted snow and ice at a residential home to allow the delivery of medicine and food.
They will be joined on Thursday morning by more troops, along with members of the Royal Navy and RAF.
The Army had already provided 10 off-road vehicles and drivers for the Scottish Ambulance Service, responding to 100 urgent call-outs within 48 hours.
Temperatures plummeted to as low as -15C (5F) to -18C (0F) overnight, but forecasters are predicting that the mercury will rise over the next few days before another cold spell kicks in.
BBC weather forecaster Daniel Corbett said there would be some problems with icy roads for the morning.
But he said there would be a "subtle change" as cold Arctic air was replaced by warmer conditions from the Atlantic.
'Exceptional circumstances'
Roads in Scotland have been getting back to normal. The M8, which links Edinburgh and Glasgow, reopened after two days on Wednesday afternoon.Roads in Scotland have been getting back to normal. The M8, which links Edinburgh and Glasgow, reopened after two days on Wednesday afternoon.
It was among a number of major routes in the busy central belt hit by snow, which forced hundreds of people to abandon their cars.It was among a number of major routes in the busy central belt hit by snow, which forced hundreds of people to abandon their cars.
Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson told MSPs he accepted responsibility for the chaos.Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson told MSPs he accepted responsibility for the chaos.
However, he shrugged off opposition calls for his resignation by saying the government was faced with "exceptional circumstances".However, he shrugged off opposition calls for his resignation by saying the government was faced with "exceptional circumstances".
In other developments:
  • The A171 near Whitby, North Yorks, was "passable with care" after more than 100 vehicles were rescued
  • Rail services were hit by widespread cancellations throughout Scotland, with Glasgow-Edinburgh shuttles off because cold air was causing braking systems to fail
  • East Coast was operating reduced services, while some local services in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and north-east England were cancelled
  • Travellers at airports including Glasgow and Edinburgh and Belfast International were advised to check flight times with airlines
  • All schools were closed in Glasgow, Inverclyde, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire
  • Hundreds were closed in Northern Ireland, along with about 40 in the north of England
  • Snow and frost forced the abandonment of Friday and Saturday's racing at Doncaster
Mr Hammond said councils had to make choices about which roads to grit but could provide salt to allow the public to clear residential streets.Mr Hammond said councils had to make choices about which roads to grit but could provide salt to allow the public to clear residential streets.
"In many cases people would like to have the opportunity to have access to grit and salt supplies so that on roads that are not on the council's gritting route they can... make the pavements a bit easier, make it a bit easier for them to get out of their driveways," he told BBC Breakfast. "In many cases people would like to have the opportunity to have access to grit and salt supplies so that on roads that are not on the council's gritting route they can... make the pavements a bit easier, make it a bit easier for them to get out of their driveways," he told the BBC.
"People have always dug their way out of their own driveways... and I would encourage people who are able to do that kind of thing to continue doing it for themselves and for neighbours who are perhaps less able to.""People have always dug their way out of their own driveways... and I would encourage people who are able to do that kind of thing to continue doing it for themselves and for neighbours who are perhaps less able to."
He said the government had recently put together a "common sense" code of practice which, if followed, should protect the public from legal action as a result of attempting to clear snow.He said the government had recently put together a "common sense" code of practice which, if followed, should protect the public from legal action as a result of attempting to clear snow.
'Good neighbours'
However, he said there was no need in England for the Army to be called in because councils were still able to call contractors if they needed help clearing roads.However, he said there was no need in England for the Army to be called in because councils were still able to call contractors if they needed help clearing roads.
Prime Minister David Cameron urged people to be "good neighbours" as the icy grip took hold of the UK.Prime Minister David Cameron urged people to be "good neighbours" as the icy grip took hold of the UK.
The Army had helped emergency services on Monday, and Edinburgh Council had requested further help, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said.
Voluntary groups and offenders serving community sentences were already helping out, he added.
The AA said it had responded to more than 230,000 incidents since the first widespread snow on 24 November - a 93% increase on the same period last year.The AA said it had responded to more than 230,000 incidents since the first widespread snow on 24 November - a 93% increase on the same period last year.
The RAC said it had received 50% more call-outs than normal.The RAC said it had received 50% more call-outs than normal.
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Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy

Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy
Temperature tab onlyTemperature tab only

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather
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