Scotland set for Storm Barbara disruption as 90mph winds forecast
Scotland is bracing itself for the arrival of Storm Barbara with warnings of 90mph winds and difficult travelling conditions as people make their way home for the holidays.
Scotland is bracing itself for the arrival of Storm Barbara with warnings of 90mph winds and difficult travelling conditions as people make their way home for the holidays.
Snow, strong winds and lightning could lead to disruption to power supplies and travel across the north-west of the UK.
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for many parts of Britain, with Scotland expected to bear the brunt of the storm from lunchtime.
More than 100 schools and nurseries in the Highlands have already been closed on what was the last day of term.
Ferries to the Northern and Western Isles have been cancelled along with some train services.
An amber "be prepared" wind warning is in place for northern and western parts of Scotland for Friday afternoon, evening and overnight into Christmas Eve.
Two separate yellow "be aware" wind warnings are in place, one covering northern parts of the UK where gusts of 60mph to 70mph are expected quite widely, and one for more southern areas, where a narrow and intense band of heavy rain and gusty winds could lead to some disruption.
Flood alerts are also in place for the Highlands and Western Isles, as well as Skye and the Scottish Borders.
Brent Walker, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, said: "Storm Barbara is crossing the Atlantic and will pass close to the north-west of the UK during Friday, bringing the potential for some disruption to power supplies and travel, and possibly structural damage."
The rest of Scotland, pockets of Northern Ireland, north Wales and the north of England are also due to feel the force of the storm on Friday.
Scotland's transport minister Humza Yousaf said: "Ministers are getting regular updates on the status of Storm Barbara and the likely impacts, with gusts of 90mph expected across the far north of the country on Friday where the Met Office has an amber warning in place.
"The safety of the travelling public is our main concern and services will run where possible, but planning in advance is essential and people should leave plenty of time for journeys and consider the conditions when they travel."
ScotRail said that due to the severe weather conditions forecast, speed restrictions and a small number of service withdrawals will take place as a safety precaution on Friday.
It said that as some trains will be travelling at slower rates, their journey times will be extended and service levels on some lines in the south, west and north will have to be reduced as a result.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), which owns and operates the electricity distribution network in the north of Scotland, remain on yellow alert with 600 frontline and support staff on stand-by.
South of the border, councils were said to be ''fully prepared'' for the onset of harsh conditions over Christmas.
The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents hundreds of councils in England and Wales, said it was issuing renewed advice on how to deal with flash floods and has stockpiled more than one million tonnes of salt to grit roads.
Environment spokesman Martin Tett said: ''Councils are fully prepared to protect residents and minimise disruption caused by Storm Barbara and other potential bad weather such as snow and flooding.
"Council staff will be out in force clearing roads of any debris and damage.''
People can call 105, a free new national phone line, if the weather damages their local power network and affects electricity supply.
The number is available to people in England, Scotland and Wales, regardless of who they buy electricity from.