A severe weather warning has been issued for the western half of Scotland for today. Forecasters have predicted persistent heavy snow, with the potential for 10cm to 20cm (4in to 8in), blizzard conditions and drifting.
A severe weather warning has been issued for the western half of Scotland for today.
Forecasters have predicted persistent heavy snow, with the potential for 10cm to 20cm (4in to 8in), blizzard conditions and drifting. Power companies have engineers on stand-by in case of cable problems.
The warnings were issued because of a "moderate" risk of a "severe event". The Met Office has warned that there is a 60% or greater risk for the whole of Scotland, although the worst of any problems are expected in the west.
A spokesman for ScottishPower said extra teams had been laid on last night in anticipation of possible power cuts.
He said: "We have cancelled planned maintenance on the electricity network to make sure staff are available if conditions result in power losses."
Yesterday, hospitals struggled to cope as the bad weather forced record numbers of patients through their doors.
The arctic conditions of the past few days have seen some of Scotland's largest accident and emergency departments treating hundreds of people for fractures.
Five hospitals across Scotland's largest health authority recorded their busiest day on record with one hospital seeing a 40% leap in admissions.
Almost 2000 emergency patients were seen yesterday in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospitals - a 20% rise on previous records.
The majority of the injuries reported to staff were broken bones caused by people slipping on the icy pavements and roads and there were a number of fractured skulls, as people hit their heads on the hard ground. Dr Alistair Ireland, clinical director for A&E Services said: "The vast majority of injuries we saw yesterday were broken wrists, ankles, elbows and legs.
"But there were some very serious consequences. We have two patients in the intensive therapy unit with serious head injuries after slipping on ice.
"Car accidents due to the icy conditions have also brought a big increase in patients to A&E."
Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary and the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, emergency departments had their busiest days on record treating more than 300 patients in a single day.
Hospital departments across Glasgow saw a combined total of 1906 patients yesterday - 55% above the average.
With two more days of freezing conditions forecast, medical staff are pleading for people to take care in the treacherous conditions.
Dr Robert Calderwood, Acute Division Chief Operating Officer with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: "At this time of immense pressure I would like to urge the public to please only come to A&E when it is appropriate.
"Many common winter ailments, such as colds and flu, can be treated without going to your local hospital or GPs, as pharmacists often provide the best help.
"By avoiding unnecessary hospital attendances wherever possible we can deal more effectively with those who do require hospital treatment."
Despite the extraordinarily high levels of activity, the NHS board said it discharged 96.4% of all patients within the target figure of under four hours between registration and discharge from the department.
Work was continuing yesterday evening to restore gas supplies to thousands of homes in the Borders town of Kelso.
Engineers were working to restore gas to more than 3000 homes in Kelso and 70 homes in the village of Ednam after the supply failed on Monday morning.
