100mph Winds Wreak Havoc
Roads and bridges closed as Scotland battles gale force winds again
Hundred-mile-an-hour winds and heavy snow have brought misery to people travelling around the country, with some drivers stranded overnight following the closure of a major road.
The high winds left hundreds of homes without power, and triggered disruption on the railways with trees and flooding blocking the tracks.
Drivers were left stranded after the snow gates were closed from
Blair Atholl to Ralia on the A9 at around 9pm last night, with the traffic
beginning to move again by convoy at around 10am this morning.
Police Scotland could not say how many vehicles were stuck, but said they had been working through the night with partner agencies including road maintenance company Bear Scotland to ensure the safety of motorists on the A9 following heavy snowfall.
Chief Inspector Louise Blakelock said: “Police Scotland is working with Bear Scotland and other partners to clear and reopen the A9 as soon as possible.
“Police officers have been in attendance on the A9 overnight to ensure the safety and welfare of motorists and Bear Scotland has been working overnight to clear the roads. The conditions have been extremely difficult and agencies are working to clear the route as safely and quickly as possible.
“It was necessary to close the road due to the extreme weather conditions to ensure the safety of motorists and also allow the workforce to safely clear the route.”
The Met Office reported winds of 101mph in Great Dunsell, Cumbria - the highest across the UK yesterday - while other exposed areas also recorded speeds well in excess of 70mph.
In Wales, around 750 homes have been left without power due to strong winds.
The gale-force winds and heavy rain come during a week of severe weather in the principality, which has included snow, giant hailstones and a tornado which hit Haverfordwest. Two people were taken to hospital after the whirlwind ripped roof sections off six homes.
On the railways a train struck debris from a landslip near Dunning in Perthshire at around 11pm yesterday. No-one was injured.
No ScotRail daytime trains were running between Perth and Inverness due to heavy overnight snow.