Temperatures forecast to plummet to -15C in Scotland

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A car buried under 4-6 inches of snow in Tyndrum, Stirlingshire

Blizzards swept across the country yesterday - as Scots were warned that the worst of the wintry weather was yet to come.

The Met Office have issued "be aware" warnings for wind, ice and rain for much of central and southern Scotland for today.

Travel chaos is set to continue as severe gales of up to 80mph hit the country, while heavy rain and a thaw caused by slightly milder temperatures could lead to localised flooding.

Snow is forecast to return from tomorrow, when the mercury will fall again - and by early next week temperatures could plummet to a teeth-chattering -15C.

Weather Channel UK meteorologist Liam Brown warned: "We should prepare for freezing temperatures and very icy conditions for the coming days, and probably much of next week too.

"There is a risk of some more widespread snow early next week. We can also expect some of the lowest temperatures of the winter so far.

"Temperatures below -10C are quite likely in Scotland, perhaps as low as -15C."

Yesterday's snow, ice and fierce winds forced schools to close and caused widespread travel disruption.

Commuters across the country faced difficult journeys to work - even though gritters had been out in force throughout the night.

There were long delays on the A9 after two lorries got stuck in heavy snow at Blair Atholl, Perthshire.

And the A82 was closed at Invergarry, Inverness-shire, after a lorry and a car collided.

The snowgates on the A82 were closed for a time at Tyndrum, Perthshire, and in Aberdeenshire the A93 Glenshee to Braemar, B974 Banchory to Fettercairn and A939 Ballater to Corgarff roads were shut.

More than 20 minor collisions were reported in the Highlands.

The weather warnings prompted ScotRail to cancel all trains from Glasgow to Fort William, Mallaig and Oban, between Helensburgh and Dumbarton Central, from Kilwinning to Largs and Ardrossan, and between Kyle and Dingwall from 6pm last night to 6pm today.

Flights at Aberdeen and Orkney airports were delayed or cancelled and CalMac had to cancel ferries on many routes.

But there was some good news for residents of Coll when they finally received a delivery of vital supplies after being cut off by raging seas for a week.

Paula Smalley, who runs Tigh na Mara guesthouse on the island, said: "The ferry finally got in around 10am and brought bread, milk, fruit and vegetables. We were lucky as by the afternoon the weather had worsened again."

Nearly 100 schools and nurseries in the Highlands and Moray were closed after the area was badly affected by overnight snow. Eight schools in Perth and Kinross, five in Shetland and three in Stirlingshire were also shut by the weather.

Meanwhile, 1100 households in Shetland were left without power after lightning struck a main line.

The rest of the UK also suffered severe weather, with "thundersnow" reported in south Wales and homes being damaged by mini-tornadoes in London, Cornwall and Wales.

In Northern Ireland, more than 100 schools were closed.

The AA had been called out to 8200 breakdowns across the UK by mid-afternoon yesterday and patrol officers rescued 57 motorists whose cars got stuck.

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