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Storm Abigail: Power cut, schools to be closed and ferries cancelled Storm Abigail: Power cut, schools closed and ferries cancelled
(about 1 hour later)
Gusts of up to 84mph and lightning strikes from Storm Abigail have hit power supplies and closed all schools in the Western Isles and Shetland. Gusts of up to 84mph and lightning strikes from Storm Abigail have left hundreds of people without power and closed all schools in the Western Isles and Shetland.
Energy supplier SSE Power Distribution said engineers were working to restore power to about 2,000 customers in Lewis and Harris. About 1,000 customers in Shetland have lost their electricity supplies.
Electricity supplies were restored earlier but a fault has since caused fresh outages. Nearly 60 primary and secondary schools on Shetland and the Western Isles will be closed to pupils on Friday.
Nearly 60 primary and secondary schools will be closed to pupils on Friday. SSE Power Distribution said engineers had restored power to most of the 2,000 customers affected in Lewis and Harris.
Ferries on the Clyde and Hebrides network have been disrupted by bad weather with more than half of the services on the 25 routes cancelled. Supplies were restored earlier but a fault has since caused fresh outages. About 150 customers remain cut off.
These included 07:00 sailings on Friday from Fionnport to Iona and Kennacraig to Islay, and the 09:20 service from Oban to Colinsay. Ferries cancelled
All other Caledonian MacBrayne services are on amber alert. The Met Office had an amber "be prepared" warning in place on Thursday for northern and western Scotland, but this has since been downgraded to a yellow "be aware" warning.
One ferry travelling from Skye to Raasay on Thursday was prevented from docking for three hours due to stormy conditions. Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne said 23 of its 26 services on the Clyde and Hebrides network have been disrupted.
A number of Northlink's Northern Isles ferry services have also been affected. Early morning sailings between Stromness and Scrabster were cancelled.
On Thursday, a ferry travelling from Skye to Raasay was prevented from docking for three hours due to stormy conditions.
The journey would normally have taken 20 minutes, but CalMac confirmed the vessel - which had five Portree High School pupils on board - was at sea for longer than usual.The journey would normally have taken 20 minutes, but CalMac confirmed the vessel - which had five Portree High School pupils on board - was at sea for longer than usual.
Northlink's Northern Isles said its ferry sailings on Friday are under review.
Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team have rescued a hillwalker who attempted to climb Ben Nevis via Observatory Gully as the weather closed in.Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team have rescued a hillwalker who attempted to climb Ben Nevis via Observatory Gully as the weather closed in.
After the operation on Thursday evening, the team posted on social media that "on the scale of difficulty this route is certain death".After the operation on Thursday evening, the team posted on social media that "on the scale of difficulty this route is certain death".
The casualty was found with chest injuries and lowered to safety at about 20:30.The casualty was found with chest injuries and lowered to safety at about 20:30.
The team added: "A very difficult rescue in atrocious weather with a very good outcome."The team added: "A very difficult rescue in atrocious weather with a very good outcome."
Power lines Forecasters warned of winds gusting to up to 90mph, heavy rain, lightning and large waves may affect coastal areas.
The amber warning covers from 18:00 on Thursday to midday on Friday, and yellow warning from 18:00 on Thursday to 23:00 on Friday.
Further yellow warnings have been issued for central and southern Scotland for Saturday to the early hours of Monday and warn of heavy rain.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has warned of the risk of flooding over the next few days.
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By early evening, the strongest gust recorded by the Met Office was 75mph, on South Uist.By early evening, the strongest gust recorded by the Met Office was 75mph, on South Uist.
Shortly after 19:00, police in the Western Isles tweeted: "Most roads in the Southern Isles are affected by High Winds and water - if your journey is not necessary please stay at home meantime."Shortly after 19:00, police in the Western Isles tweeted: "Most roads in the Southern Isles are affected by High Winds and water - if your journey is not necessary please stay at home meantime."
SSE Power Distribution warned that "a significant number of customers will wake up tomorrow with no power".SSE Power Distribution warned that "a significant number of customers will wake up tomorrow with no power".
Police have reported a number of trees down across Dumfries and Galloway and there has been disruption to some west coast rail services.Police have reported a number of trees down across Dumfries and Galloway and there has been disruption to some west coast rail services.
The Met Office has an amber "be prepared" warning for northern and western Scotland. A yellow "be aware" warning covers most of the rest of Scotland. Earlier this year the Met Office asked the public for suggestions for names for storms.
The storm is the first to be officially named by the Met Office.The storm is the first to be officially named by the Met Office.
Its approach has been tracked by BBC Weather Watchers. View their pictures here.Its approach has been tracked by BBC Weather Watchers. View their pictures here.
Forecasters have warned of winds could gust to up to 90mph, heavy rain, lightning and large waves may affect coastal areas.
The amber warning covers from 18:00 on Thursday to midday on Friday, and yellow warning from 18:00 on Thursday to 23:00 on Friday.
Further yellow warnings have been issued for central and southern Scotland for Saturday to the early hours of Monday and warn of heavy rain.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has warned of the risk of flooding over the next few days.
Duty flood manager David Faichney said: "The weather system will create a storm surge that is due to coincide with high tide on Thursday evening into the early hours of Friday morning along the south-west and west coast.
"This, combined with the high winds, is likely to result in spray and wave overtopping along the exposed coastline in Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire and Arran, west central Scotland, and Argyll and Bute, which may impact roads and properties in coastal areas.
"Coastal flood impacts are also possible along the Moray coast and in Shetland, Orkney, Skye and Lochaber, Wester Ross, Caithness and Sutherland, and the Western Isles during Friday morning."
Follow the course of Storm Abigail in mapsFollow the course of Storm Abigail in maps
'Vulnerable neighbours' Are you affected by Storm Abigail? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.
Police Scotland said people in the worst affected areas should expect the likelihood of power cuts and disruption to travel. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
The force said: "In addition to the high winds and lightning, there are warnings of large waves which may lead to overtopping along costal routes and causeways. Or use the form below
"There is a strong possibility of disruption to public transport and power utilities.
"Members of the public, businesses and communities are advised to plan ahead and prepare for possible power outages ahead of the storm.
"Where possible, secure outdoor items which could be dangerous in the wind. It is also asked that communities look out for vulnerable neighbours."
John Mitchell, from the Met Office, said it was going to be a "fairly prolonged period of strong winds".
He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The winds will be picking up from this afternoon, getting up to gale force across the Hebrides during the afternoon period.
"From then onwards, right through tonight and much of tomorrow it will be a very windy day. So it isn't going to be until the early hours of Saturday when we'll see the winds properly easing down.
"The other thing as well to bear in mind, there's going to be some quite big waves around western coasts.
"There's some high tides as well at this time of year so expect some overtopping of waves across causeways and some waterfronts as well."
Earlier this year the Met Office asked the public for suggestions for names for storms.
Abigail is the first storm to be officially named by the weather forecasting organisation.