Snow and ice are expected to disrupt commuters across large parts of Britain, with up to 15cm of snowfall predicted to fall in some places.
Cold air overnight brought snow, sleet and rain across Scotland and England’s north-west, resulting in temperatures falling to -4C in the Eastern Highlands.
About 750 road-gritting lorries – 500 in Scotland and 250 in England – are ready to be deployed, according to reports, while the Met Office has warned of an “icy start for many”.
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Up to 15cm of snowfall has been predicted in some places, while 750 road-gritting lorries are ready to be deployed, according to reports.
Milder weather is forecast for Wednesday, although there is still “a chance that rain could turn to snow over higher ground in Scotland and northern England”, according to Nicola Maxey, a Met Office spokesperson.
She said temperatures will start to rise across the country from tomorrow as January draws to a close.
Wednesday will be “milder and less chilly than today”, Ms Maxey said.
Showers are forecast for Scotland and the north of England tomorrow, although the rest of the country can expect dry weather, she said.
Scotland has been worst affected by the icy conditions, with part of the M74 shut for a time overnight.
One motorist tweeted that she was stranded for four and a half hours on the road while another reported that he was stuck for an hour.
Traffic Scotland said there were very snowy conditions across the trunk network on Tuesday and advised people to drive with care.
Police in southern Scotland advised people to leave extra time for their journey and drive according to the conditions.
A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Showers of rain, hail and sleet are likely this morning, leading to a risk of ice on some surfaces as temperatures fall below freezing,
“Some snow is also possible, but mostly restricted to high ground above 200 metres where a few centimetres may settle.”
Temperatures across the UK will rise to double digits towards the end of the week, with Friday being a particularly warm day, according to the Met Office.
Most of England was forecast to fall around 3C to 5C on Tuesday, warming to between 7C and 9C on Wednesday.
Warmer conditions to give respite from ice and snow as January draws to a close
Days will be ‘milder and less chilly’ from midweek, says Met OfficePolice Scotland said the M74 was shut between junctions 14 and 15 northbound for a time overnight but was passable with care on Tuesday morning.
Cheryl Burnett said it took her six and a half hours to get from Dumfries to Glasgow, with four and a half hours stuck on the motorway.
After leaving Dumfries just after 9pm on Monday she arrived home at about 3.30am, a journey which normally takes around an hour and a half
She told the PA news agency: “When I got to the M74 it was OK and you could follow someone else’s tracks but then it just came to an absolute grinding halt because visibility was so poor and the cars all came to a standstill.
“I had stuff in the car like blankets so it was just a case of waiting. I thought we were going to be there all night so I turned off the engine and layered up. It was an eye-opening and terrifying experience.”
Ms Burnett said traffic eventually started moving again, though slowly, at around 2am after a gritter went past and she reached home in Glasgow at about 3.30am.
She urged people to make sure they have blankets, food and something to drink stored in their car in case they ever find themselves in a similar situation.
Another motorist tweeted he was stuck for an hour and another reported that he was stuck for an hour and a half.
Tomorrow’s forecast reads: “A bright start in the south and east but skies turning cloudier later. Wintry showers in the northwest will be replaced by persistent rain through the afternoon, heavy at times.”
No weather warnings are currently in place.
Looking ahead to next week, the Met Office says the first week of February is expected to bring “outbreaks of rain and showers”.
Its long-range forecast states: “Overnight fog and frosts are likely to accompany these more settled conditions, with light winds and temperatures probably nearer to the average for the time of year.
“The far north, and particularly north-west, will probably remain more changeable, or unsettled, with further spells of wind and rain.”
