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Forecasters issue weather warning Severe weather warning in force
(about 3 hours later)
Severe weather warnings have been issued for much of Scotland as the country continues to be hit by gales and snow blizzards. Heavy snow and high winds have hit parts of Scotland, causing a string of accidents and travel disruption.
Almost every part of Scotland is expected to experience sleet and snow during the day on Friday. Northern areas bore the brunt of the storms and a severe weather alert remained in force across the country with heavy winds and 60mph gusts.
Forecasters warned motorists to take extra care when travelling. Fourteen Spanish crewmen were rescued from a trawler which ran aground in stormy conditions in the Western Isles.
Strong winds have resulted in a trawler running aground off St Kilda and two firemen were injured when a garage partially collapsed near Hamilton. Weather is thought to have contributed to two firefighters breaking their legs when a shed collapsed in Lanarkshire.
The 14 crew on board the Spinningdale were rescued after the vessel was stranded 44 miles west of Benbecula. Heavy snow continued to fall in the Highlands, causing travel chaos for motorists.
The firemen were hurt after they attended the garage fire at Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, at 0425 GMT on Friday. The main route through the region, the A9, was closed for a short time earlier, but has since reopened.
All of Scotland is going to see some snow at some point Rob HutchinsonMeteoGroup class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7221941.stm">Disruption in your area class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/">BBC Weather service There were numerous reports of lorries and cars getting stuck in drifting snow and stationary vehicles hindering the progress of others.
A Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said strong winds were a contributory factor in the partial collapse of the brick-built structure. Several cars were reported to have slid off roads as they attempted to drive through the wintry conditions, but no-one was injured.
Ferry and air passengers are also facing further disruption, with many services expected to be cancelled. If the winds die down, it will be another great day for skiing tomorrow in the Highlands Rob HutchinsonMeteoGroup class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/">BBC Weather service
Poor weather conditions have closed the A93 at Spittal of Glenshee. Northern Constabulary said one motorist got out of his car at Glenfinnan after it came off the road, only to watch the vehicle slide into a loch.
The Erskine and Skye Bridges are closed to high-sided vehicles and there are speed restrictions on the Forth and the Tay Road Bridges. Earlier, the crew of the Spinningdale were winched to safety by a helicopter in a dramatic rescue operation, after their vessel ran aground at St Kilda.
Rob Hutchinson, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said conditions in the Highlands were likely to be "atrocious." No-one was seriously injured, but one was treated for a cut hand and three for hypothermia.
'Drifting snow' Several stretches of road were also closed in the north east due to heavy snow drifts.
He said winds were due to ease later on Friday, but that this would bring a drop in temperatures. A stretch of the M74 motorway, in the south west, was closed earlier at junction 14 due to heavy snow, but there were no accidents.
Mr Hutchinson added: "There is a low pressure system sitting just to the north of Scotland that will move into the North Sea, and this will bring some very strong winds. Strong winds meant the Forth Road Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles and speed restrictions were put in place.
"All of Scotland is going to see some snow at some point. All restrictions have been lifted on the Erskine and Tay bridges.
"The very worst conditions will be in north Scotland. In the Highlands there will be drifting snow and blizzards, and atrocious conditions." Ice warning
Ferry and air passengers are also facing further disruption, with some services having been cancelled.
Passengers have been advised to check with their ferry operators.
About 300 households were without electricity around Dumfries, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.
Warnings of blizzards remained in place in the Highlands, the north east, and the south west, with warnings of ice on the roads in central Scotland.
However, forecasters predicted the storm would drift away from Scotland, focusing more on England, where it was already causing problems in northern parts.
Rob Hutchinson, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said: "The snow is still falling around the Highlands, but it seems to be clearing from Scotland, and heading towards northern England where it is causing problems."
But he said the dark storm clouds might have a silver lining.
"It could lead to another great day for skiing tomorrow in the Highlands," he said.
"If the winds die down, there will be great snow."
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