Crashes as drivers deal with treacherous icy roads in Glasgow
Roads are still frozen as the air temperature climbs
Last updated 19th Jan 2024
Commuters across Glasgow and the west are being warned of treacherous conditions on the roads this morning as the region experiences a rapid change in weather conditions.
The Met Office still has a yellow weather warning in force for snow and ice until midday.
Drivers heading out early are discovering road surfaces covered with ice and slush, despite overnight air temperatures heading into positive figures for the first time in a week.
Shortly after 6am an accident blocked the northbound carriageway of the A737 at Johnstone with drivers having use the junction slip roads to get past it.
There was another incident on the M8 at Ballieston where the eastbound exit slip to the M73 was partially shut off.
Two incidents were reported on the A8 in Inverclyde between Port Glasgow and Langbank.
Frozen roads
Rain falling onto frozen roads is still turning to ice, making for treacherous conditions on the side roads.
Data from a weather monitoring station in the south of Scotland shows the sudden change.
At 8pm on Thursday in Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway, it was still recording a temperature of -10c, but by 5am Friday it was +1c.
Turning wet and windy
From Saturday to Monday the weather is forecast to turn milder, with wet and windy conditions expected through the weekend and into next week.
The heaviest rain is expected on Sunday - with 30mm to 50mm falling widely and the potential for peaks of 80mm to 100mm over hills, the forecaster said.
Milder conditions will also result in the thaw of lying snow.
A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued for Sunday and Monday, covering most of the country, with a yellow wind warning issued for parts of Scotland.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist David Hayter said: "Conditions will stay cold on Friday but a change in weather type is on the way, bringing milder air for the UK during the course of the weekend.
"The Atlantic influence will then introduce some wet and windy weather, with a deep area of low pressure approaching from the west on Sunday.