WHITE OUT: Blizzards have caused chaos on roads and disrupted power supplies across Scotland.
Yesterday, about 10,000 properties suffered disrupted supplies, including all of Arran and areas of Ayrshire, Argyll and Dumfries and Galloway.
About 4000 properties in Wigtownshire and the Portpatrick and Newton Stewart areas were also affected, according to ScottishPower.
With snow-blocked roads making driving conditions in the south-west and many other areas hazardous, engineers struggled to reach power lines downed by the weather. Its helicopters were grounded due to poor visibility.
Residents on Arran have been warned the power blackout could last for several days.
Forecasters say the cold snap griping Scotland is set to last into Easter week.
Three hillwalkers suffered minor injuries after an avalanche in the Cairngorms. Mountain rescue teams were at the scene with police and ambulance crews at 2.30pm.
In the Borders, high winds blew over a lorry on the A701 near Leadburn junction at about 8.30am. The driver, a 52-year-old man, was trapped in the cab and had to be freed by firefighters.
In Dumfries and Galloway, roads in Wigtownshire were covered in up to 10 inches of snow, whipped up by icy winds.
More than 100 schools were closed and non-essential staff at Dumfries and Galloway Council were told to go home.
In the same region, police issued a Level 4 warning to motorists, advising them against driving. A council bulletin released mid-afternoon reported "horrendous blizzard conditions" in the community of Kelton.
Major arteries were closed by heavy snow, including the A77 at Ballantrae in South Ayrshire and the A9 between Blair Atholl and Newtonmore, with no viable alternative route being offered by Traffic Scotland.
The A760 was closed by snowfall between Largs and Kilbirnie in North Ayrshire.
A ScottishPower spokesman said last night: "We have approximately 6000 properties in this area off supply. Our engineers will work as late as possible, but due to blocked roads and poor weather we will have customers off supply overnight. Anyone requiring advice should contact the helpline on 0845 272 7999.
"We have mobilised even more engineers to be available first thing in the morning and, depending on road conditions, we hope to reach our customers that were not possible today."
In England, a woman died after a landslide and floodwater in Cornwall wrecked a block of flats. Emergency crews found a body, thought to be Susan Norman, in her 60s, after picking through debris at the Veronica flats in Looe.
The Met Office said temperatures in Scotland are eight degrees lower than average for this time of year, and predict the bad weather will continue until Thursday at least. The Scottish Government's resilience committee met as it continued working with agencies across Strathclyde and Dumfries and Galloway.
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