Brace for thundersnow, blizzards AND flooding: Motorists are warned to take care on the roads as Met Office warns of gale force winds and EIGHT INCHES of snow in Scotland and the north with 51 flood warnings across parts
- Gritters have been out overnight helping to clear Scottish motorways with heavy snow predicted to continue
- The Met Office issued a yellow warning of snow and lightning for parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Up to eight inches of snow is likely in some areas while temporary speed conditions are also in place
- Showers are expected in England with the Environment Agency issuing 51 flood warnings and 42 flood alerts
Drivers have been urged to brace themselves for thundersnow as Storm Gladys sweeps across parts of Britain today.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and lightning, in force until 8pm, for most of Scotland and Northern Ireland today.
Forecasters say that frequent heavy snow showers are expected, along with very gusty winds and a chance of frequent lightning affecting some places.
Several Scottish councils have announced a number of school closures today due to bad weather. At the top of the list is Highland Council which has reported 15 school closures, followed by Perth and Kinross which states nine schools are shut.
On the roads, Traffic Scotland said that snowy conditions are affecting much of the central belt, the A9 around Slochd and the A90 around Dundee, and urged people to drive according to the conditions.
Heavy snow hits Glasgow West End as a yellow Met Office weather warning for snow and lightning hits Scotland
Thundersnow is expected in parts of Britain today while tomorrow promises sunshine with some showers set to return on Saturday
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning of snow and lighting across large swathes of Scotland and Northern Ireland
BEAR Scotland, which manages Scotland’s key routes, reports that heavy snow has fallen on its North East Trunk Roads – the A9, M90, A92, A90, A95 and A96.1
BEAR Scotland said that gritters have been out continuously overnight through ‘challenging conditions’, with 24 gritters and 10 tractors still out on the network.
Police Scotland tweeted: ‘Warnings are in place for much of the day. Please be prepared and drive according to the conditions if you are travelling.’
Rail and ferry travel was also disrupted by the weather.
ScotRail tweeted that due to severe weather, blanket speed restrictions were in place until 8am between Falls of Cruachan and Taynuilt, between Ardgay and Lairg and between Pitlochry and Blair Atholl.
Caledonian MacBrayne said that some services were liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice due to the weather.
The Met Office warning states that in some areas one to two inches of snow is likely to build up, even at low levels, while on higher ground some places could see as much as eight inches this morning.
A yellow warning of snow and lightning has been issued by the Met Office for much of Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland
Mack’s World tweeted this image of a lovable pooch enjoying the snowy weather in Glasgow
Another Twitter used shared this image of her garden in Perth blanketed under inches of heavy snow
Snow-covered hills this morning in Menstrie in Clackmannanshire, central Scotland
Stanley in Perthshire looked like a picture postcard early this morning – but drivers have been warned to avoid snow storms throughout the day until 8pm
Forecasters said that temperatures across Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to drop sharply following a squally band of rain yesterday, with frequent heavy and blustery snow showers arriving from the Atlantic.
It states: ‘The showers will be accompanied by strong, blustery winds, with gusts of 45-55mph possible, and a chance of 65mph on coasts. Blizzard conditions are likely over higher ground.
‘There is a small chance that some of the showers could be accompanied by frequent lightning, which could impact power supplies, including some places outside of the warning area.
‘Snow showers are increasingly likely to turn back to rain and sleet at low levels later Thursday morning and early afternoon, although remaining as snow above 200-300 metres.’
The warning covers Central Scotland, Tayside and Fife, the Highlands and Western Isles, South West Scotland, Lothian and Borders, Strathclyde and Northern Ireland.
Police Scotland tweeted: ‘Warnings are in place for much of the day. Please be prepared and drive according to the conditions if you are travelling’ (Pictured: Heavy snow in Anniesland, Glasgow)
Residents in Stanley, Perthshire, woke up this morning to find a blanket of snow across their street
Flooding in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, saw the ancient abbey surrounded by a moat of flood water as parts of the UK face heavy snow, strong winds and lightning strikes
Environment Agency is urging communities along the Rivers Severn and Ouse to be prepared for significant flooding following high rainfall from Storm Franklin over the past few days
Huge areas of plains in Gloucestershire were flooded after the River Severn was overwhelmed by heavy rainfall
The heavy rains left the town of Tewkesbury standing virtually as an island, with many houses just inches away from being flooded
In England in Bewdley, Worcestershire, search and rescue crews were out checking properties and speaking to residents on Wednesday after temporary flood defences were breached following heavy rainfall on Tuesday afternoon.
The River Severn peaked in the town on Wednesday afternoon but levels are expected to remain high for a prolonged period and a severe flood warning, meaning a danger to life, is still in place.
The Environment Agency said severe flooding is expected to continue.
The last week has seen storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin cause problems across the country and about 400 properties have been flooded.
The Environment Agency had 51 flood warnings and 42 flood alerts in place. Its defences have protected more than 40,000 properties from flooding in places such as Derby, Didsbury in Greater Manchester and Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire.
Dan Bond, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: ‘We are still facing a significant flooding risk, and we are urging people to remain vigilant and take extreme care. Last weekend’s heavy rainfall on already wet areas continues to cause river flooding along the River Severn and is likely to continue over the next few days.
‘So far we have received reports of around 400 properties having flooded over the past few days. Our thoughts go out to all those affected – flooding can and does have a devastating impact on people’s lives.’
North of the border, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 21 flood warnings and four flood alerts.
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