Thousands were left without power in Northern Ireland overnight after blizzards brought down power lines, the Met Office has issued an extreme weather warning in northern Scotland, and snow is also expected in parts of England and Wales. Follow live updates here.
9.00am:
"If March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb. If it comes in like a lamb, it goes out like a lion." (Thanks to Matthew Weaver's mother, Kate, for the proverb).
Having entered the world warm and placid like a newborn bovid, with sunshine and warm temperatures in parts of the UK, 2010's March is leaving it roaring.
The Met Office has mustered its most severe weather warning for Northern Scotland, where "severe blizzards" are expected, while 48,000 people were left without power in Northern Ireland last night after severe weather damaged power lines.
The weather is having a serious impact elsewhere. In Scotland four school children have been severely injured after the bus they were travelling in crashed in "horrendous" weather conditions.
The teenagers were heading off on a school trip to Alton Towers when their coach left the road and crashed into water on the A73 near Biggar, in South Lanarkshire.
9.16am:
There were 39 passengers on the bus when it crashed shortly after 6am at Wiston, near Biggar, in South Lanarkshire.
A Strathclyde police spokesman said the reason for the crash was still being investigated.
But he said driving conditions in the area were "horrendous".
Four were seriously injured and another eight suffered minor injuries.
The pupils were from Lanark Grammar School in South Lanarkshire, police said.
There were six adults and 33 children on board when the bus came off the road.
Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and the ambulance service attended the scene and treated casualties.
A spokesman for the ambulance service said casualties had been taken to Wishaw General Hospital, while those with minor injuries were being assessed at the scene.
Local resident Bill Wood told BBC Radio Scotland that the weather in the area was "absolutely atrocious" with heavy snow and high winds.
He said of the bus: "It is on its side in a burn.
"Most of the people affected have been taken to the nearby town hall where they are being looked after."
He added that a rescue helicopter had been sent to the area.
9.37am:
The Evening Express in Aberdeen has posted this video to its YouTube channel of conditions in the city yesterday:
The accompanying article on the newspaper's website reported gales of up to 60mph overnight.
There is some good news, however – the Met Office has downgraded its weather warning in the north of Scotland to the second most severe on its scale.
Here's the warning for Highlands & Eilean Siar:
Snow, persistent and heavy at times, will continue through today, especially in Moray and Eastern Highland. Further accumulations of 15-20 cm, locally 30cm, will occur in places although falling as rain in immediate coastal areas. Lying snow will drift in the strong winds.
The public are advised to take extra care and refer to the latest Scottish Environment Protection Agency Live Flood Warning Information, and also to Traffic Scotland for further advice on road conditions.
10.08am:
The Met Office has received "unconfirmed reports of 30 to 40cm of lying snow in parts of Northern Ireland," according to its Twitter feed. It is asking tweeters to "Send us your reports".
"Wrong way round?" @SamLizars has responded.
Coincidentally, if you'd like to tell us how you've been affected by the weather email adam.gabbatt@guardian.co.uk. You can find me on Twitter too – @adamgabbatt – if that's your thing.
LarryFitz points out its actually Braemar in the snow video, not Aberdeen. Braemar, population 839, is the host of The Games – an annual Highland Games Gathering originating from events believed to have been held by Malcolm III, not the Channel 4 programme.
The event is held at the village on the first Saturday in September and traditionally attended by the British Royal Family, according to Wikipedia.
10.21am:
Henry McDonald, the Guardian's Ireland Correspondent, has been in touch.
Police in Northern Ireland said 300 people trapped in snow on a main route between Belfast and Derry faced "frightening conditions" over night.
They had to be rescued from a number of vehicles including a school bus after they became stuck on the Glen Shane Pass.
Motorists and passengers were taken to Dungiven Leisure Centre, in Londonderry, only for a power failure to strike, forcing them to relocate to nearby Limavady and Maghera.
The PSNI said no-one had been injured in the operation, although nine people had refused to leave their vehicles.
The drivers and passengers were marooned after heavy snow and winds swept across Northern Ireland, leaving 48,000 homes without power.
Northern Ireland Electricity said there were currently 600 individual faults across the network. Roy Coulter of NIE said the number without power that number would probably rise during the morning.
"We have about 450 engineers, linesmen, tree-cutters, call agents, admin staff and our colleagues in the Agency Supply Board are assisting us to restore supplies.
"Some of the people have worked through atrocious weather conditions
right through the night in up to 300mm of snow.
"There was very poor visibility and wind so strong they couldn't actually climb poles."
Northern Ireland Electricity said that widespread damage had been caused by the weather, especially in Omagh, Enniskillen, Dungannon, Downpatrick, Derry, Coleraine and Ballymena.
Problems were caused by snow and ice sticking to power lines which were then being blown over.
10.48am:
It's not looking good for the Easter getaway - snow before the break and a planned rail strike after it.
The AA says the traffic is likely to be busier than normal this Easter with 17 million cars on the roads. "The extent of the congestion will be weather-dependent," it says.
The forecast is not good for the weekend. Claire Austin of MeteoGroup, said: "It's going to be mainly cold, wet and windy over Easter."
(This is Matthew Weaver taking over for a bit from Adam - he's popped out for a doctor's appointment).
11.06am:
Blogger David Bishop was supposed to be giving a lecture in Edinburgh on "revenge narrative in Contemporary Hollywood Cinema" but instead he's snowed in.
He writes: "Unseasonal blizzards [yes, blizzards] have cut off the town where I live... I'm trapped in the house, while outside resembles a Stephen King Christmas Carol. Spooky.
Forty minutes ago he added: "Snow now thicker than ever. Thank Grud I abandoned my attempt to reach Edinburgh by any means necessary. It's like The Day After Tomorrow outside, but without any sign of Dennis Quaid. Come to think of it, I'm meant to be flying south to Heathrow the day after tomorrow for Eastercon. Miracle thaw may be required to make that happen, at this rate."
11.14am:
A schoolgirl was killed in the A73 crash (9am and 9.16am), according to STV.
Strathclyde Police are about to give a news conference, according to our Scotland correspondent Severin Carrell.
11.23am:
In a speech in London, Gordon Brown, expressed his sympathy to the families of the children injured in the coach crash. "At a time when winter weather has returned in spring to many parts of the country, our thoughts are with the families and the friends of those children of Lanark Grammar School who have been seriously injured this morning in a bus accident in the north of our country," he said.
11.28am:
Susan Thornton the mother of a boy who was due to be the coach trip to Alton Towers explained to the BBC why she prevented her son from taking the journey.
"I wish somebody had had the sense to make the decision not to drive in that," she said.
11.37am:
A spokeswoman for Strathclyde police just confirmed to me that a female pupil died in the coach crash.
11.46am:
The female pupil who died in the crash was 14 years old, according to PA. It adds that 11 other pupils were injured.
Emergency services took four seriously injured children to hospital after the coach drove into water off the A73, at Wiston, in South Lanarkshire, shortly after 6am.
Local resident Bill Wood described "absolutely atrocious" conditions with heavy snow and high winds.
12.33pm:
Just been on the phone to Strathclyde police, who said the female pupil killed in the crash this morning was 17 years old, not 14 as previously reported. Here's their updated statement:
A 17 year-old girl has died following a road crash on the A73 near Wiston, Biggar.
Police were called around 0550 hours this morning to a report of a road crash involving a coach, which appears to have lost control then struck a bridge parapet and left the road, then landed on its side in a river.
The coach was carrying 39 pupils from Lanark Grammar School, and six adults, including the driver. They were on their way to Alton Towers.
Superintendent Iain Murray, Head of the Road Policing Department said today:
"Tragically one girl has died as a result of the crash. Two people were air-lifted to Glasgow's Southern General Hospital and several others have been taken to local hospitals to be treated for their injuries.
"Our hearts go out to the people involved and their families at this sad time."
"I would like to thank the motorists who stopped at the scene at the time of the crash this morning and provided assistance to those involved, and also to the local community who have been assisting this morning."
A spokeswoman for Strathclyde police said crash scene investigators are currently carrying out their enquiries. Any witnesses, or anyone with information is asked to contact Motherwell Road Policing Department on 01698 483000.
(This is Adam Gabbatt taking over now, by the way, Matt's gone for his lunch.)
1.04pm:
John Kilbride, a journalist based in Glasgow, is tweeting regularly on the coach crash.
He reports that Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said the schoolgirl was pronounced dead by paramedics.
STV has a gallery of pictures showing the bus lying on its side next to a bridge.
The Scotsman website has the latest on road conditions if you are planning to travel in Scotland.
The AA has said motorists should follow police advice and prepare for potentially hazardous long journeys with warm clothes, a fully charged phone and food and drink.
And here's a Guardian video showing how severe the weather has been in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland.
1.31pm:
John Kilbride's nephew, Robbie, was involved in the coach crash. Here's John's tweets:
Lanark crash: nephew had to climb out of skylight of bus.
Lanark crash: nephew checked over in hospital and given all clear, suffering effects of cold
John told my colleague Matthew Weaver that Robbie managed to contact his parents after the crash to say he was ok. John said he was "cold and wet," as were others involved in the crash.
Some videos are beginning to appear on YouTube showing how heavy the snow has been. highcalamity has posted this one of the snow in Livingston at 10.30am this morning.
1.47pm:
NHS Lanarkshire has said a total of 44 people had received hospital treatment following the crash.
By lunchtime, 25 had been allowed to go home while 19 remained in various hospitals around Lanarkshire and Glasgow.
A spokeswoman for the health board said all the patients were in a stable condition.
Sky News has a video showing the scene of the crash and the coach, which is believed to still be in the water. The news channel is also reporting that the East coast main line is still affected by landslides between Edinburgh and Newcastle. More information on that to follow.
Real Radio in Glasgow is also reporting on the crash:
The 17 year old was found in the water - it's believed she was thrown from the bus. She died at the scene.
2.14pm:
Severin Carrell, the Guardian's Scotland correspondent, has been in touch to report that the A9, the major road to the north of Scotland, has been closed, which is expected to cause huge disruption.
Here's a statement from the Northern Constabulary:
Police and emergency services are currently dealing with a number of incidents on the A9 and the A95 Grantown to Aviemore road and as a result both roads have been temporarily closed.
A road traffic collision at Ralia is the most serious of a number of incidents on the A9 at present. The road has been closed southbound at the Raigmore Interchange to alleviate traffic heading towards the collision and ease congestion on roads being used to divert traffic already on the A9 between Inverness and Ralia.
Traffic heading north is being diverted via Newtonmore and southbound traffic already on the A9 is being diverted south via Kingussie.
A number of cars and lorries are also stuck in snow on the A9 near Aviemore and emergency services are doing everything possible to ease the situation. Two lorries have jacknifed on the A95 near Grantown blocking the road.
The A9 at the Slochd is also badly affected by snow and traffic is very slow moving north and southbound at present.
Police are advising motorists not to travel to allow emergency services and gritters to operate.
My colleague Megan French has alerted me to a video on the Channel 4 news website, showing a police officer giving a statement on the bus crash.
3.23pm:
The 17-year-old girl killed in a coach crash on a school trip today has been named by Strathclyde Police as Natasha Jade Paton, from Cleghorn, South Lanarkshire.
Pictures from Sky News are showing the coach being lifted out of the tarn, as more detail emerges about the trip – this is from PA:
The annual trip was organised by the school as a pre-Easter break from exam studies for sixth-year pupils.
South Lanarkshire Council education director Larry Forde said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of one of our senior students at Lanark Grammar who died this morning, and all who were injured.
"The school organised its annual trip to Alton Towers as a welcome break for sixth-year students from their exam preparation before the Easter holidays.
"The headteacher Mark Sherry and everyone connected with the school wish to express their sympathies to all those involved.
"At this moment, our major focus is on the young people, their families and staff within the school.
"Social work and psychological services have joined staff at the school offering support.
"Throughout the day, Mr Sherry and colleagues within the school have been working to keep the families of those involved informed."
First Minister Alex Salmond described the accident as "tragic".
He said: "These things are always incredibly difficult when there's children involved.
"My heart goes out to the parents and indeed all the relatives of the child who has died."
Mr Salmond said it was a matter for law officers to decide if a fatal accident inquiry would be held into the tragedy.
But he added: "It seems the initial reports are that the incident was almost certainly weather-related. Conditions were atrocious, they were extremely difficult.
"But that doesn't make things any easier for the parents and relatives of the child who has died."
The bus involved in the crash was operated by Lanarkshire-based company Photoflash.
Owner Alan Purdie told Radio Clyde that he was "distraught".
He said: "It is a tragedy. We are all deeply concerned for the parents (of the dead girl) this morning. The company is distraught."
Mr Purdie said there had been black ice on the road, making conditions treacherous.
He said: "The main roads had snow on them but were not that bad. But there was black ice under the snow on that road. We cannot say any more."
The driver suffered a broken leg and cuts in the crash.
That's all from me, thanks for your comments and emails.
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