Hundreds of schools will remain closed as snow and ice brought by Storm Goretti continue to cause disruption across the country.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning of snow and ice covering much of Scotland, which runs until midday on Friday, among six other yellow and amber weather warnings across the UK.
More than 250 schools are due to remain closed on Friday, including more than 150 in Aberdeenshire, dozens in the Highlands and Aberdeen, and a number in Moray.
Many pupils will have had a whole week off school at the start of the new term, though remote learning has been provided in many cases.
A total of 278 schools were closed on Thursday across northern Scotland, or around 11 per cent, which is down on the 440 that were closed on Wednesday.
A yellow snow and ice warning remains in place across Scotland until midday. Freezing conditions have caused ice and around 2 to 5cm of fresh snow accumulations are expected in western Scotland, and hills in northern England.
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It comes after several days of “intense” snowfall, ice and sub-zero temperatures which have led to school closures and travel disruption, mainly in the north of the country.
Storm Goretti, named by the French meteorological service, has meanwhile brought peak gusts of 99mph to the Isles of Scilly and as much as 30cm of snow to parts of the UK. The Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for wind in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on Thursday afternoon.
Travel has been affected all week, with a number of flights cancelled, and some train lines affected. British Airways has cancelled 25 departures and 27 arrivals scheduled to operate at London’s Heathrow airport on Friday. West Midlands Railway said it has suspended all services.
“We are unable to operate any services until the afternoon,” it said. No rail replacement road transport is being provided because of “uncertain road conditions”.
London Northwestern Railway said it has suspended services between Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street until Friday afternoon. Its services between Birmingham New Street and London Euston are reduced.
But as much of the country is impacted by ice, authorities have asked pedestrians and motorists to be careful on slippery surfaces.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the storm will bring “wet, windy and wintry weather” to parts of the UK.
He said Storm Goretti, named by Meteo France, would bring “some strong winds and some significant snow to central and perhaps southern parts”.
The meteorologist added: “As that rain pushes its way and it hits against that cold air that we currently have across us… and so on the northern edge, we are likely to see some fairly significant snow as we go through later tomorrow and into Friday.”
Officials in the West Midlands have warned of the “worst snowfall in a decade” as parts of England and Wales prepare to be hit with 5 to 10cm of snow on Friday, and up to 15 to 25cm in some areas.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended amber cold health alerts for England as an early warning that adverse temperatures are likely to affect health and wellbeing, running until Sunday.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, urged people to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours earlier this week. He warned: “The forecast temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, leading to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections, particularly for individuals over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions.”
National Highways issued its own amber warning for snow in the West and East Midlands, which lasts from 6pm on Thursday until 9am on Friday.
The agency said in a statement: “Routes particularly around Birmingham across to Leicester and Nottingham will see particularly difficult driving conditions and consideration of the weather forecast should be taken before commencing journeys, with considerable delays possible.”
The agency said on Friday morning the A628 Woodhead Pass connecting Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire remains closed in both directions between the A616 for Flouch and the A57 for Hollingworth because of snow. Drivers are advised to use the M60, M62 and M1 as an alternative route.
Three out of four northbound lanes of the M1 motorway are closed between Junction 28 for Mansfield and Junction 29 for Chesterfield following a crash involving a lorry.
Recovery of the lorry has started and specialised winter fleet vehicles are en route to clear snow which has settled in the closed lanes.
Drivers face delays of up to half an hour as congestion stretches for four miles.
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