Thanasis Gavos

Dozens schools remained closed in Scotland today Tuesday due heavy snowfall overnight, with the thermometer dropping in the Highlands to -7.6 degrees Celsius.

The snow is also causing problems for travel on Scotland’s road network, where the mercury is forecast to drop to the lows in the coming days. -15 degrees Celsius.

The Met Office in Britain had issued since Monday yellow warnings for snowfall and frost for most of the UK, valid until Friday.

The warning covers, on different days, central and south-east England, including London, Wales, Northern Ireland and especially Scotland and north-east England, where the effects are expected to be more intense.

The worsening weather is due to a cold air mass from the Arctic moving south.

In terms of temperatures, the UK Health Protection Agency has issued a level 3 alert for northern England and a level 2 alert for the rest of England.

At level 3 there is a 90% chance of extremely cold weatherwith ice or snow, which can endanger the health of the most vulnerable citizens.

Warnings for problems and delays have also been issued for travel on the country’s road and rail network.

An official of the Meteorological Office did not rule out the possibility of a prolonged snowstorm that would justify naming the new wave of bad weather.