ROADS have been closed and flights grounded across the UK as snow continues to batter Scotland.
Drivers have been warned of icy conditions as temperatures are set to plummet below freezing.
Several warning have also been put in place for strong winds and rain, with gusts of up to 70mph.
The Met Office has also warned that rural communities could be cut off as roads become hazardous.
With temperatures expected to stay well below freezing overnight, the Met Office said that ice was likely to be the main hazard, and it warned drivers they should expect longer journey times through today’s rush hour.
In the Highland village of Dalwhinnie, the mercury dipped to -12.4C in the early hours of yesterday morning, the lowest temperature recorded anywhere in the UK so far in 2017.
Elsewhere, the temperature stood at -11.9C in Braemar, -10.3C in Tyndrum, and -9C in Balmoral. However, it was not just the north of Scotland that endured the cold conditions, with the temperature falling overnight to -7.2 in Edinburgh and -5.9C in Paisley.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Temps down as low as -6 overnight, roads are extremely icy out there. If your journey is necessary then keep alert for potential hazards & keep speeds down.”
Yellow warnings have been released for snow and ice across Scotland, with up to 10cm of snow expected on higher ground through today.
Areas affected include Central, Tayside, Fife, the Highlands, Orkney and Shetland as well as the Strathclyde area.
While the start of the week is expected to be mainly dry and bright, with occasional wintry showers, it is set to become increasingly unsettled from tomorrow night onwards, with bands of rain, sleet or snow crossing the country.
Although Scotland was spared the heavy snow which has caused widespread disruption across the transport network in England and Wales over the weekend, there was a knock on effect for scheduled rail and air services. Major roads were also crippled by the weather, with the M1 briefly closed in Leicestershire.
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