UK weather latest: More snow and gales forecast as 'significantly disruptive' Storm Emma follows Beast from the East

'Ask yourself, "Is my journey worth risking lives for?"; says Traffic Scotland

Blizzards, gales and sleet are expected to blight the UK towards the latter half of the week as Storm Emma rolls in from the Atlantic.

The weather system, named by the Portuguese Met Service, is set to hit the UK after the so-called “Beast from the East” blanketed large swathes of the UK with snow.

The Met Office issued a red warning for snow for central Scotland on Wednesday that was extended to 10am on Thursday morning.

Forecaster Craig Snell said that although Thursday marks the first day of meteorological spring, “winter is still firmly in charge across the UK”.

He also warned that extreme weather will grip Britain for another 48 hours.

Drivers were advised to avoid travelling to or from Scotland, with Traffic Scotland telling people to ask themselves whether their journey was “worth risking lives for” before they set out.

Drivers on the snow-covered and traffic-jammed M80 on Wednesday evening abandoned their cars, fearing an overnight stay in their cars

First minister Nicola Sturgeon said in a Twitter post police were working to get the traffic moving again and provide people with emergency care and supploed..

“This is a very difficult situation but everything possible is being done,” she said.

Storm Emma, which has worked its way across Europe and was due to last at least until Friday, was expected to be “significantly disruptive”, bringing the risk of power cuts and transport delays.

An amber warning for snow was in place for most of Scotland, Wales and the southwest of England on Thursday.

Yellow warnings for snow were in place for most of the UK, accompanied by strong winds in southern England and Wales.

“There is the possibility of travel delays on roads, stranding some vehicles and passengers, and delays or cancellations to rail and air travel,” the Met Office said.

“Some rural communities could become or remain cut off. Power cuts may occur and other services, such as mobile phones, may be affected.”

Severe weather caused major travel disruption across the UK and Ireland on Tuesday under the weather system known as the “Beast from the East”.

Road closures, stranded vehicles and cancellations were widespread due to snow and ice.

Services on trains and planes were disrupted, with travellers urged to check with their transport provider before setting off on journeys.

Meanwhile, hundreds of schools across Britain were closed for a second day.

The so-called Beast from the East weather system brought biting cold to the country, as a man died after falling into a freezing lake in a London park.

Across the Irish Sea late on Wednesday, forecasters in Ireland put the entire country under their highest weather warning red alert.

The decision was taken by Met Eireann at 11pm over the threat of snow and ice and it runs until Friday at 3pm.

“Blizzard conditions will develop from the south on Thursday afternoon and evening as heavy snow and strong easterly winds bring snow drifts northwards over the country,” Met Eireann said.

“Eastern and southerly counties will be worst affected.”

Up to 25cm of snow is expected in some areas, with predictions that accumulations could hit 40cm.