BBC News
 Weather
experts are warning that freezing temperatures will continue during
the holiday weekend in Scotland.
People heading
out for Hogmanay celebrations are being warned to take precautions
against the extreme cold.
The temperature
at Glasgow Airport reached -13C overnight on Thursday and it is
expected to remain bitterly cold for the next 48 hours.
Postal services
continue to be hit and rail and bus services are being restricted.
Partygoers
heading for Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations have been urged
to dress for the conditions and avoid drinking too much.
David Strang, Assistant Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders
Police, said: "It looks as if this Hogmanay is going to be
a really cold one. We want people to enjoy themselves and be safe."
Joe Aitken,
events manager for Glasgow City Council's Cultural and Leisure
Services Department, said safe rather than stylish clothing should
be worn.
"To keep
out the worst of the elements, we strongly recommend fleecy jackets,
warm leggings or trousers, cosy hats and gloves and practical
shoes," he said.
All major
road routes in Scotland are now open but compacted snow is still
affecting side roads.
The country's social work departments are urging householders
to check on their elderly neighbours.
'Massive disruption'
Renfrewshire
Council said its community care services were being badly affected
and it would appreciate help from the public.
And Scotland's
water companies have reissued guidance on preventing burst and
frozen water pipes.
They say people
going away for Hogmanay should ensure that there is a minimum
level of heating in their homes.
Fresh snow is predicted for the north and east of the country
later on Friday.
ScotRail advised
passengers not to travel on Friday, warning that services in west
and central Scotland are subject to "massive disruption."
ScotRail spokesman
John Yellowlees said: "Things today are significantly worse
than yesterday, particularly in west central Scotland.
"Despite
our best efforts many of our trains have unfortunately become
affected by very severe frost.
"As a
result only a very limited service is operating at the moment,
especially on the Glasgow north electrics and Ayrshire routes."
There have
also been delays and cancellations to Virgin trains, while GNER
says travellers should check whether their train is running.
Matches postponed
After being
forced to close on Thursday, both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports
were reported to be operating more or less normally on Friday
morning.
The weather
has also hit the weekend's football card, with a number of league
matches postponed - including Aberdeen v St Mirren and Celtic
v Motherwell.
The other
casualties so far are: Alloa v Livingston, Clyde v Morton, Raith
Rovers v Inverness Caley Thistle and Ross County v Airdrie in
Division One; Forfar v Stenhousemuir and Stranraer v Arbroath
in Division Two; and Albion Rovers v Dumbarton, Cowdenbeath v
Elgin City, East Stirling v Hamilton and Montrose v East Fife
in Division Three.
Scotland's two major cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, were gridlocked
on Thursday following a night of snow storms which covered the
country, up to 15 inches deep.
In Aberdeenshire,
where more heavy snow is expected during the day, the B974 Banchory
to Fettercairn road was closed, as was the A939 Cockbridge to
Tomintoul road.
Police in
central Scotland have warned drivers not to use the A811 in the
Arprior area after a burst water main created a section of ice.
It is feared
power supplies may be disrupted if cables buckle under the weight
of frozen snow.
Worst temperatures
The west and
south west of Scotland have experienced the worst temperatures
and snow depths for five years.
Glasgow City
Council has pledged that staff will continue to work around the
clock to ease road and footpath problems.
Some 1,800
employees, using more than 80 council vehicles, including gritters
and snowploughs, have been called in from their festive break.
Meanwhile,
charities have called on the Scottish Executive to act now to
ensure people do not freeze to death during the cold weather.
Shelter Scotland
claims 178,000 people in Scotland - more than 8% of the population
- live in "extreme fuel poverty", needing to spend at
least a fifth of their household income on keeping warm.
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