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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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