Rail and road problems as temperatures hit new low of -17.1C

A ScotRail train at the Yoker depot in Glasgow after a treacherous journey

Scotland has faced a second day of travel disruption after temperatures continued to plummet overnight.

Altnaharra in the Highlands saw a reading of -17.1C, which was the lowest recorded in the UK since Boxing Day 2010.

Further heavy snowfall and freezing conditions have caused problems on the roads and across the rail network.

A Met Office yellow warning for snow is in place for most of central and eastern Scotland.

Forecasters warned that Wednesday night could be even colder and the cold spell is set to last until the weekend.

The temperature had already dropped to-13.8C in Kinbrace in Sutherland by 18:00.

• In pictures: Inside 'Snow globe' Scotland

• How cold is it where you are?

Under Covid rules, people should only be travelling for essential purposes, such as work, education, essential shopping and exercise.

In a tweet, Road Policing Scotland described driving conditions as "terrible" after dealing with stranded vehicles on the A720 Edinburgh bypass.

"Before jumping in the car, ask 'is my journey essential?' If it is, drive safe. Slow and steady wins the day," they added.

An HGV stuck in the snow on the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass caused huge tailbacks on Wednesday

The disruption included:

• A jack-knifed vehicle on the A72 at Dirtpot Corner near Cardrona in the Borders

• HGVS stuck on the A720 eastbound between Calder and Baberton, and on the A92 at Lochgelly

• Rail services between Edinburgh and Glasgow running 30 minutes late, and services between Edinburgh and Arbroath disrupted

• In Stirling, the B818 between Carron Valley and Fintry closed due to drifting snow

• Early Edinburgh Trams services cancelled

• Some housebound vaccinations being rearranged in NHS Lothian

• A drop-in testing centre in Cowdenbeath's Maxwell Centre did not open due to "challenging wintry conditions"

• Postponement of Scottish Premiership game between Livingston and Hamilton

• Waste and cleansing services suspended in Edinburgh and recycling centres closed

• Stagecoach East Scotland cancelled many of its Fife services

• Dozens of schools across Fife, Moray and the Highlands remain closed to all pupils - including the children of key workers and vulnerable children

• Keep across some of the main travel, council and weather accounts on our severe weather Twitter list.

Satellite images of the UK at about 10:48 show large areas of snow cover

More than 10cm (4in) of snow fell in parts of the Borders overnight, according to Jim Fraser, Scottish Borders Council's emergency planning officer.

He urged people to only travel if their journey is essential and added: "The Met Office is continuing to forecast more persistent snow showers across some areas today.

"Our snowploughs and gritters are out clearing our primary road network and will move on to the secondary routes as and when conditions and resources allow."

A wintry scene in Hopeman in Moray

Police urged people travelling to Edinburgh airport or nearby vaccine or testing sites to extra care

In Edinburgh, waste collections have been suspended so staff can help with the snow-clearing effort.

"We had our full fleet of gritters and mini-tractors out yesterday and throughout the night, treating roads, pavements and cycle lanes and clearing priority routes of snow," transport and environment convener councillor Lesley Macinnes said.

"The team have been focusing on Covid vaccination centres and key arterial routes to make sure anyone needing to make an essential journey or to receive a Covid vaccination is able to."

Meanwhile a snow blower, tractor fitted with a snow plough and an excavator had to be used to reopen a road blocked by snow in the Cairngorms.

Highland Council workers started the job last Friday and had the A939 Grantown on Spey to Bridge of Brown road cleared of tonnes of snow by Monday this week.

Workers spent several days clearing the A939 Grantown on Spey to Bridge of Brown road

Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir said "temperatures will plummet wherever you are" on Wednesday, and strong winds and snow will be "disruptive across many areas".

Temperatures will struggle to get above zero during the day with overnight temperatures expected to drop to -6C and below in exposed areas.

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An amber weather warning expired at 21:00 after up to 20cm (8in) of snow fell in parts of central Scotland.