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Storm Gertrude sparks amber warning Storm Gertrude sparks amber warning
(35 minutes later)
A storm officially named Gertrude by the Met Office has been forecast to bring heavy rain, high winds, snow and ice to Scotland on Friday.A storm officially named Gertrude by the Met Office has been forecast to bring heavy rain, high winds, snow and ice to Scotland on Friday.
The Met Office has issued amber "be prepared" and yellow "be aware" warnings for Scotland and large parts of the rest of the UK.The Met Office has issued amber "be prepared" and yellow "be aware" warnings for Scotland and large parts of the rest of the UK.
The amber warning for high winds is in place from 03:00 to 10:00 on Friday.The amber warning for high winds is in place from 03:00 to 10:00 on Friday.
Scotrail has announced a raft of train cancellations for Friday due to the expected weather conditions. ScotRail has announced a raft of train cancellations for Friday due to the expected weather conditions.
No trains will run north of Inverness, or from Perth to Inverness, until late afternoon and there will be no trains from Glasgow to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig till then either.No trains will run north of Inverness, or from Perth to Inverness, until late afternoon and there will be no trains from Glasgow to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig till then either.
Some Clyde coast services will be suspended, and even the Glasgow to Edinburgh service will be reduced on Friday.Some Clyde coast services will be suspended, and even the Glasgow to Edinburgh service will be reduced on Friday.
West coast ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has also warned of disruption to its services.
All schools on the Western Isles will be closed on Friday.
Charts produced by surfers' website Magicseaweed.com forecast swells of up to 48ft (14m) out to sea.Charts produced by surfers' website Magicseaweed.com forecast swells of up to 48ft (14m) out to sea.
The amber warning includes a forecast of winds gusting to 60mph or 70mph across wide areas and to 80mph on exposed coasts. The wind speeds have been forecast to reduce during Friday afternoon.The amber warning includes a forecast of winds gusting to 60mph or 70mph across wide areas and to 80mph on exposed coasts. The wind speeds have been forecast to reduce during Friday afternoon.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning of rain falling to 40mm-60mm over western Scotland and north of central Scotland on Friday.The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning of rain falling to 40mm-60mm over western Scotland and north of central Scotland on Friday.
A separate yellow warning of snow and freezing temperatures covers from 21:00 on Friday to 15:00 on Saturday.A separate yellow warning of snow and freezing temperatures covers from 21:00 on Friday to 15:00 on Saturday.
The Met Office said: "Showers, frequent and heavy at times, will turn increasingly to snow through Friday evening.The Met Office said: "Showers, frequent and heavy at times, will turn increasingly to snow through Friday evening.
"The heaviest snow showers are most likely to the north of the central belt of Scotland. Here, away from the immediate coast, around five to 10cm of snow could accumulate through Friday night and Saturday morning."The heaviest snow showers are most likely to the north of the central belt of Scotland. Here, away from the immediate coast, around five to 10cm of snow could accumulate through Friday night and Saturday morning.
"Elsewhere, snow accumulations will be more localised, around 1cm to 3 cm is possible and primarily above 200m. Road surface temperatures are expected to fall below freezing overnight into Saturday morning, leading to a risk of icy patches forming.""Elsewhere, snow accumulations will be more localised, around 1cm to 3 cm is possible and primarily above 200m. Road surface temperatures are expected to fall below freezing overnight into Saturday morning, leading to a risk of icy patches forming."
Scottish Borders Council said it had begun planning for potential flooding in its area.
Jim Fraser, the council's emergency planning officer, said: "Given the number and content of the weather warnings issued, and the current ground conditions, we are preparing for a significant and extended weather event across the region.
"The council and partner agencies are doing our very best to plan for the potential impacts of Storm Gertrude and would urge residents to make sure they are fully aware of the forecasts and take all necessary steps to prepare themselves.
"Travel disruption is almost inevitable given the weather forecast we have been provided with and it may well be that Police Scotland advise during the upcoming days that travel should only be undertaken if absolutely necessary."
Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - has warned islanders to prepare for bad weather. All schools on the islands will be closed on Friday.
Storm Gertrude comes a year after the most powerful storm to affect the British Isles for more than 20 years. The worst of that weather in January 2015 affected the Western Isles.
Meteorologist Dr Edward Graham, of the University of the Highlands and Islands, said: "At its peak, winds reached hurricane force 12 during the night at Stornoway Airport in Lewis, with a peak gust of 113mph - the strongest in the UK since the 1990s."