Snow storms, gales, rain – welcome back to work

Millions of Britons face a miserable return to work this morning with fierce snow storms, gale-force winds and heavy rain expected to cause transport chaos.

The Met Office yesterday issued severe weather alerts for large parts of the UK. Scotland was expected be worst hit with winds as strong as 80 or 90mph set to batter the Central Lowlands.

And with blizzard conditions taking hold last night, forecasters warned of widespread travel disruption. Traffic Scotland reported that a number of roads were already being affected, particularly in the central Highlands.

Downfalls overnight left between 10cm and 20cm of snow on higher ground. Experts also predicted localised flooding in parts of Wales and northwest England.

Billy Payne, forecaster for MeteoGroup, said the change in conditions was caused by a deep Atlantic low-pressure system which has descended on the UK.