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Hope of weather respite as Army called in to clear snow | Hope of weather respite as Army called in to clear snow |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Forecasters have predicted a brief respite from the freezing weather, as the Army was called in to clear snow and ice in Edinburgh. | Forecasters have predicted a brief respite from the freezing weather, as the Army was called in to clear snow and ice in Edinburgh. |
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. | 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. |
But the Met Office still has warnings in place for icy roads in many areas. | But the Met Office still has warnings in place for icy roads in many areas. |
And a third of independent Scottish garages had to close their pumps after they were unable to receive fuel. | And a third of independent Scottish garages had to close their pumps after they were unable to receive fuel. |
Off-road vehicles | Off-road vehicles |
The Army started working in Edinburgh on Wednesday night following a request for assistance from the city council. | The Army started working in Edinburgh on Wednesday night following a request for assistance from the city council. |
Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland were out on the streets within hours of approval being given by the Ministry of Defence. | Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland were out on the streets 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | But he said there would be a "subtle change" as cold Arctic air was replaced by warmer conditions from the Atlantic. |
'Exceptional circumstances' | '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. |
But Brian Madderson, chairman of RMI Petrol, which represents 6,000 independent forecourts in the UK, said 300 out of 900 were shut - not due to a petrol shortage, but because bad weather had disrupted the supply chain. | But Brian Madderson, chairman of RMI Petrol, which represents 6,000 independent forecourts in the UK, said 300 out of 900 were shut - not due to a petrol shortage, but because bad weather had disrupted the supply chain. |
Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson told MSPs on Wednesday that he accepted responsibility for the chaos. | Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson told MSPs on Wednesday that 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: | In other developments: |
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Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said councils had to make choices about which routes to grit, and called on people to help themselves and their neighbours by clearing icy side roads. | Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said councils had to make choices about which routes to grit, and called on people to help themselves and their neighbours by clearing icy side roads. |
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. |
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. |
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
FogLight HeavyFrostLight HeavyPressure FrontsCold Warm OccludedRainLight Heavy ExtremeSnowLight Heavy | Map Key
FogLight HeavyFrostLight HeavyPressure FrontsCold Warm OccludedRainLight Heavy ExtremeSnowLight Heavy |
Temperature tab only | Temperature tab only |
Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather | Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather |
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