Warnings As 'Thundersnow' Hits Parts Of UK

Parts of the UK are experiencing snow and icy conditions as commuters are warned to expect travel disruption today.

The Met Office issued an amber "be prepared" warning across central and southern Scotland, with Wales, Northern Ireland and much of England also on alert.

Network Rail suspended four train routes in advance of snow, while the AA warned drivers to be aware of "treacherous conditions".

In Wales a rare phenomenon called 'thundersnow' reportedly caused problems overnight, with warnings of more bad weather on the way.

Thundersnow occurs when thunder and lightning combine with a snowstorm and usually appears in late winter.

Sky News weather forecaster Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "The next 48 hours could see treacherous driving conditions for most of the UK and Ireland with the risk of ice and snow and then severe gales.

"Heavy snow will fall through the Central Belt, Fife and Perth and Kinross, with 10cm (4ins) or more over the highest ground.

"Elsewhere, a covering of snow is possible, even over the higher ground in southern England, whilst 2-5cm (2ins) is likely above 100m (330ft)."

The warnings follow fierce storms last week which left 120,000 homes without power in Scotland.

The Met Office warned of two spells of "persistent snow" across the amber warning area - on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning - which could produce "disruptive snowfall during busy travel periods".

High ground in Wales, moors in south-west England, the Mendips and Cotswolds are also at higher risk of snow while pictures posted on Twitter revealed residents of Coolaney, County Sligo in Ireland woke up to a blanket of snow.

On Tuesday, more than 30 schools in the Highlands were closed and in Dundee a car involved in a six-vehicle crash slid off the road and through the railings of a house and in west London severe gales caused the side of a garage to collapse.

Network Rail said no trains would run on the Dumbarton Central to Helensburgh Central and Glasgow to Oban lines until 6pm on Thursday.

The Kyle to Dingwall and Kilwinning to Ardrossan line will also be suspended.

The A9 in Scotland has now reopened after it was closed earlier.