Stein Connelly of Transport Scotland has given an update on the situation on the M80.

"This is the highest level of alert that has ever been put out in Scotland, so it has been significant," he said.

"At the moment we have got 300 vehicles stranded out there.

"We are getting fuel to them and making sure they have got food and water.

"We have been transferring gritters up to the area to try and get that cleared.

"The main aim is getting people moving just now, the people that are stuck there."

Dumfries and Galloway's Virtual Operations Support Team (DGVost) is reporting poor conditions on the A75, particularly at Mouswald Banks east of Dumfries.

It said the wind had picked up and was blowing the snow from the fields across the roads.

Image source, DGVost

Image source, DGVost

It added that with more snow expected people should avoid travelling if possible.

Image source, pa

Lesley Forster has managed to get home after spending 18 hours on the M80 near Cumbernauld. She left Edinburgh at 2pm on Wednesday and got back to Mollinsburn, north of Glasgow at 8am. She says it was a horrific experience.

"I had nothing with me. I had to use the water I had with me to put in to my window wipers. I was stuck for 18 hours and have never been so frightened in my life. It was freezing cold. I had a total meltdown.

"There were no snow ploughs or anything. A young lad came out of his house with a sled a filled with water and a few bits of food - all he had in the house and handed it out. I am so grateful to him.

She said: "Never again. Once it started to get light and you could see everything round about you and you have got the reality of it and were thinking 'you are going to come out of this alive'.

"I sound a bit dramatic, I don't know if it is tiredness.

"I kept looking on Twitter and it kept saying the emergency services were on the way. There were no emergency services until 5 this morning. I saw nothing.

"It was just a nightmare."

The advice is 'don't travel'.

There is a RED WARNING in place across most of central Scotland until 10 this morning but amber warnings will REMAIN across much of Scotland throughout the day.

Looking at the current road closures and problems - mainly within the red zone M8 eastbound AN ACCIDENT HAS BLOCKED ONE LANE at J10 ON THE OFF-SLIP.

M74 northbound an Accident blocking the road between J11 and - J12 at Millbank - expect delays if you are heading that way.

The M73 is closed northbound from Junction 2 - this is because several motorists have had problems AROUND J2 AT Baillieston - if you must travel then do use an alternative route.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the M80 and the M876 - many motorists are stranded there and have been for many hours.

The advice from the police is to STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE.

The M80 northbound is now closed between J4a and J9 due to adverse weather conditions.

Dangerous conditions on roads between Berwick, Edinburgh and Dundee and across the central belt to Glasgow.

The ONLY services running on the ScotRail network this morning are: Aberdeen - Inverness Aberdeen - Dundee Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh & Wick Inverness - Perth.

Although most public transport is cancelled across the red warning zone Glasgow Subway is open.

Services are running on the Outer Circle only.

All stations are open except West Street.

No flights to or from Glasgow Airport until 1500. Edinburgh airport is closed until 1000 - most airlines have cancelled their operations from Edinburgh Airport until lunchtime.

Prestwick Airport is open and operational - as is Aberdeen Airport.

Disruption and cancellation on the ferries - check ahead.

Giancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter, BBC news website

Scottish Borders Council has announced all its schools will remain shut for a third consecutive day on Friday.

It said "support and advice" was being provided to senior pupils preparing for exams.

A statement added that plans were being developed with the aim of opening secondary schools for senior pupils at least on Monday, however that was "weather dependent".

Dave Cameron caught this image of the A975 Newburgh to Aberdeen road at 07:20.

Image source, Dave Cameron

Another motorist stuck on the M80, north of Glasgow, has been sharing his experience of the situation.

Gary Horne, who was trying to get to Glasgow, has been there since 19:00 last night.

"I am stuck in the same place, nothing moving at all at the moment," he told Good Morning Scotland.

"There were two gritters went past on the hard shoulder about 02:00 and I thought that was hopeful but it turns out they are stuck about 300 metres further on.

Image source, PA

"As far as I can see forward or back towards Stirling it is absolutely jammed, two or three lanes of traffic.

"I heard somebody say there were two or three hundred vehicles, it feels like there is certainly more than 1,000 from what I can see here.

"There are still volunteers offering snacks and water this morning which is good.

"There is a lot of fresh, soft snow around the cars and trucks so I think it will be quite difficult to get this whole queue moving."

Stewart Gunn in Gourock is looking for his car this morning

Image source, Stewart Gunn

The trams are running but there is very little evidence of much else happening on Princes Street this morning.