Winter is “still firmly in charge”, a Met Office forecaster has said as Britain prepares for another day of sub-zero temperatures, icy blasts and “blizzard-like conditions”.
It comes as Storm Emma, rolling in from the Atlantic, looks poised to meet the Beast from the East’s chilly Russia air – causing further widespread snowfall and bitter temperatures.
All you need is snow and glowsticks.... pic.twitter.com/tJywJKv9WF
— kath (@mrs_coyle) 28 February 2018
The Met Office has issued a red alert for Scotland, the highest level of weather warning, that is in place until 10am on Thursday with up to 40cm of the white stuff expected in some areas.
Perfect storm: Scotland in chaos as 'Beast from the East' brings country to a standstill
Forecaster Craig Snell said although Thursday marks the first day of meteorological spring, “winter is still firmly in charge across the UK”.
He also warned that extreme weather will grip Britain for another 48 hours.
“The red warning is our highest tier, we don’t often see a red warning – the last one was back in 2016 up in Shetland and Orkney and that was for strong winds,” he said.
“The last time we had the red snow warning was back in 2013 and that was for South Wales – they do not get issued that often.”
Wednesday was very cold with heavy #uksnow affecting many northern and eastern areas, and the far southwest. There were sunny spells elsewhere. Here are the extremes pic.twitter.com/26Q42EPB59
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 28, 2018
Mr Snell revealed that a red warning for snow has never before been issued for Scotland, England or Northern Ireland.
Amber snow warnings have also been issued for North East of England and the central belt of Scotland, in place between 10am and 8pm on Thursday.
From 12pm on Thursday until 8am on Friday an amber snow and ice warning has also been issued across south west England and south Wales.
On top of these, yellow snow warnings have been issued for vast swathes of southern, central, and northern England, Northern Ireland and Wales – in place for most of Thursday.
In response to the impending heavy snow showers all schools, community centres and libraries in Edinburgh will be closed, the city’s local authority said.
Plymouth Council said more than 80 schools would be closed on Thursday, with more than 50 in Newcastle and 103 across Devon remaining shut.
READ MORE: How not to slip up at work during red weather alert
On top of the Amber snow warning in the south west, Mr Snell said there could be 50 to 60mph winds that will bring “blizzard-like conditions”.
“There could be 10cm to 20cm of snow quite widely in that area, with possibly Dartmoor or Exmoor seeing up to 50cm of snow,” he added.
Heading into Friday he warned that the snow in the south west may turn into freezing rain and could “give a glaze of ice” on top any lying snow – making conditions “even more treacherous”.
Weather warnings for snow (PA Graphics)
On Wednesday as icy blasts gripped Britain, a man in his 60s died after being pulled from a lake in Danson Park, south east London that he had fallen into.
Firefighters also rescued a young boy who had tried to run into the middle of a frozen lake and got trapped as the ice broke up at Laindon near Basildon, Essex.
Disruption across the country’s rail and road network is expected to ensue throughout rush hour on Thursday as wintry conditions continue to blight Britain.
Video: Tips for driving in the snow
Gatwick Airport said due to the severe weather they are “expecting a large number of cancellations and delays to flights”.
Advising those travelling to check the status of their flight with their airline, the airport stressed to passengers “not to travel to the airport if it is cancelled”.
Edinburgh Airport also tweeted to say most airlines have cancelled their operations had cancelled flights from there until lunchtime on Thursday.
Police across the country also advised motorists to avoid driving if possible owing to poor visibility and treacherous conditions.
The Met Office said the highest temperature in the UK on Wednesday was 1.7C recorded in Katesbridge, County Down and the coldest in Braemar, Aberdeenshire at -5.3C.
Mr Snell warned: “Generally many places on Thursday will struggle to get anywhere near -1C, a few people will come up above, but many of us will be firmly below freezing.”
Glasgow Airport said it will be closed until 3pm on Thursday following heavy snow showers overnight and with a red alert still in place.
An airport spokesman said: "Further snow is forecast during the day which will make travel conditions to and from the airport extremely challenging. This decision has been taken with the safety of passengers and staff in mind.
"Our teams have been clearing snow continually since Tuesday evening and will continue to do so throughout the day.
"We would advise passengers not to travel to the airport and anyone with travel plans should contact their airline directly for specific flight information."
Perfect storm: Scotland in chaos as 'Beast from the East' brings country to a standstill
Edinburgh airport said it was currently closed because weather conditions meant it and the airlines operating there "do not have the critical mass of staff needed to run operations securely".
Heathrow said it had "consolidated" its flight schedule "to provide more certainty around departing flights, and ensure the safety of our passengers and colleagues", while Gatwick said "many flights are cancelled or delayed today".
London's Paddington Station which takes rail services from Wales and the west of England has closed.
In a tweet, Great Western Railway said: "Important update. Paddington Station will close from 0800 on 01/03/18 owing to severe weather conditions. All High Speed Services will start and terminate at Reading."
READ MORE: How not to slip up at work during red weather alert
Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland it has been "the most significant snow incident we've had since 2010''.
He said: "The M80 has presented much more significant challenges to us overnight and there has been a very strong operation to try to gain traction over the course of the night.
"Although many people were stuck for a long time we did get the road moving quite significantly, but there are people who have been stuck there for a long time."
He said people should avoid travel for the whole of today, telling the broadcaster: "That's the clearest and the sharpest warning I can give, that people should avoid travel today to give us an opportunity to clear the incidents we have and to give us an opportunity to recover the network for the safe movement of individuals in due course."
Scotland's Transport Minister Humza Yousaf tweeted: "The @metoffice have now extended their severe Amber warning! It will now run until Friday (2nd March) 10am."
READ MORE: Live traffic and travel news
He added: "The advice is to avoid all but absolutely essential travel. If you do travel there will be disruption, you may possibly get stranded."
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