Amber weather warning runs to 10:00 on Friday
Thousands of pupils at home as schools stay shut
The public is advised not to travel in the worst affected areas
Hundreds of motorists stuck overnight on the M80 near Cumbernauld
No trains running in the red alert area and airport is closed at Glasgow and Edinburgh
The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service have confirmed that there will be no trials going ahead tomorrow because of the continuing severe weather.
Members of the public cited by the Crown to give evidence should not go to court tomorrow, Friday 2 March.
Cases will be adjourned to another day and witnesses will be advised of the new date.
Image source, GoogleAll East Lothian Council schools, nurseries and specialist education provision will remain closed to pupils on Friday 2 March due to adverse weather.
Transport Scotland's Stein Connelly said the M80 was being hit with prolonged blizzards, making conditions challenging for road workers.
Asked about his hopes for the next couple of days, he joked: “I don’t think I have ever been as close to the Met Office in my life.
"We have really been following every word that they say over the last few days, and in fact going back further than that.
"We are wishing for the end of this. I don’t think it is going to end, not right away.
"We have got the amber warning until tomorrow but there are still yellow warnings right into the weekend.
"So we are still going to have some challenges, some cold temperatures and some snow - but if we can maintain the roads the way they are now, hopefully going into a yellow we will be in a better place and we will be able to maintain that."
Image source, ReutersConditions on the M80 near Castlecary
Edinburgh Trams are to continue to operate trams between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre for the rest of Thursday, 1 March.
A spokesman said: "Following a review of the current weather situation and available resource, services we will continue to operate approximately every 20 minutes until midnight this evening.
"Work will carry on through the night to clear snow with the intention of resuming passenger service from 05:00 on Friday, 1 March with an anticipated frequency of approximately every 20 minutes.
"A reciprocal ticket agreement with Lothian on their Airlink 100 service will continue until further notice.
Lea Harrison, managing director of Edinburgh Trams said: “We’d like to thank our customers for their patience and wish to ensure you that we are doing all we can to help keep you moving while keeping safety in the forefront of our minds.”
Image source, GoogleAll central Edinburgh Bank of Scotland branches have been closed.
A spokesperson for Bank of Scotland said: “Due to the ongoing extreme weather we are sorry to say that some of our branches are closed and some services have been impacted as a result.
"We take our responsibility to our customers and safety of our colleagues very seriously and only take the decision to close our branches if it is absolutely necessary.”
Stein Connelly of Transport Scotland told BBC Radio Scotland’s Newsdrive the M80 will open “very soon”.
He said: "It’s good news. The last vehicle is in the process of being recovered.
"The gritters and ploughs have already treated the whole section of road.
"They are going to do one more pass and then the road will open."
The M73 and M876 are part of the same closure.
He added: “Once we get that open, which will be very soon, it means all trunk roads will be open."
Image source, ReutersRecovery vehicles on the M80
Police Scotland say armed officers have been helping with weather-related incidents.
The incidents included the search for a "vulnerable male in severe and life-threatening weather conditions" in Forth Valley during the early hours of this morning. The man was traced safe and well.
The force said: "ARV crews deal with anything they come across in the course of their patrols."
Image source, Getty ImagesAn Edinburgh Airport spokesman said: "All departures are complete for Thursday.
"We ask that passengers DO NOT come to the airport.
"Our airlines are currently assessing their plans for tomorrow."
Customers have been stocking up and deliveries are disrupted.
These are empty shelves at Sainsbury's in Meadowbank in Edinburgh due to the snow.
BBC Reporting Scotland presenter Jackie Bird helps find Ryan Hagan's knight in shining armour. A very kind Barry Currie (left) brought Ryan pizza while he was stuck on the M80 for nine hours. Ryan, a psychiatric nursing assistant in Larbert, was only too happy to say a thank you - with a shake of the hand and a box of chocolates - after Jackie tracked him down.
(From left) Barry Currie, Jackie Bird and Ryan Hagan
Routine operations and outpatient hospital appointments have been cancelled today and tomorrow across much of Scotland.
Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lothian, Forth Valley, Fife, Tayside and Borders are all affected.
Despite severe travel disruption most NHS staff have made it to work.
One surgeon from Glasgow walked nearly three hours into Paisley's Royal Alexandria Hospital this morning to operate on a cancer patient.
In Dumfries and Galloway, some staff were brought to work by coastguard and rescue vehicles.
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A break from blizzard conditions in the central belt of Scotland allows people (and their dogs) to venture outdoors. Some were on their way to the shops, for others it was about enjoying the white stuff.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Silver Dolphin gets a brush up as one man clears the snow from a boat on the River Leven, Balloch, Scotland.
Image source, EPAIt was walkies time for this bulldog in Garrowhill, Glasgow. The Met Office's red weather warning passed at 10:00 today, however, an amber warning is in place until 10:00 tomorrow.
Image source, EPAHeads down and carry on. Wrapped up pedestrians in Baillieston, Glasgow, followed the well-worn tracks of others on the day after a night of snow blizzards.
Image source, Getty ImagesSnowploughs were a welcome sight on Scotland's roads. This one was clearing roads in Balloch.
Image source, EPAWhen the snow falls snowmen get built - that's the rule. This one towered over a wellie-wearing youngster in Glasgow.
Walker in Edinburgh's Blinkbonny braving the snow.
Image source, Corrie RobertsDundee City Council has confirmed that all schools in the city will remain closed on Friday.
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Image source, James Frazier McBrideJames Frazier McBride sent this picture of the M80, which is beginning to clear after hundreds of cars got stuck overnight
James Frazier McBride sent this picture of the M80, near Cumbernauld, which is almost clear after hundreds of cars got stuck overnight. The motorway has been closed all day to allow strnaded vehicles to be removed.
ScotRail has started to run "limited" services between Glasgow Central and Kilmarnock until 1900.
They will run at 13 minutes past the hour from Glasgow Central, and 56 minutes past the hour from Kilmarnock.
Limited services are also running between Edinburgh & Glasgow via Falkirk High until 1900.
They will run 15 and 45 mins past the hour from Edinburgh, and 00 and 30 mins past the hour from Queen Street.
No trains will depart after 1900 this evening.
Tomorrow ScotRail said it will need to test railway lines again to ensure safety.
This means there will be no services in the affected areas in the morning peak.
An amber warning remains in place across much of the country until 10:00 on Friday and the advice is still not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Hundreds of drivers were stuck overnight in their vehicles on the M80 between Glasgow and Stirling and the motorway is still not clear. It has been closed in both directions all day to allow gritters to try to free vehicles which are stuck.
There are also problems on other roads, especially the M73.
There are no trains in central Scotland and very few buses.
Virgin Trains have not been operating on the West Coast in Scotland and have advised passengers against travelling on the East Coast.
Glasgow Airport has been closed all day and Edinburgh will close completely at 18:00.
Both airports will review the weather on Friday morning before deciding if they will operate.
Hundreds of thousands of school children will have a third day away from lessons on Friday and many universities and colleges will also be closed again.
Many hospitals have cancelled non-urgent operations and NHS 24 said it was struggling to deal with the volume of calls due to staff shortages.
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