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| Storm Gertrude sparks amber warnings | Storm Gertrude sparks amber warnings |
| (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. |
| Two amber warnings for high winds are in place. | Two amber warnings for high winds are in place. |
| ScotRail has announced a raft of train cancellations and reduced services for Friday. | ScotRail has announced a raft of train cancellations and reduced services for Friday. |
| 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 until 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 until 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. | West coast ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has also warned of disruption to its services. |
| All schools on the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland will be closed on Friday. | |
| The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued flood alerts and flood warnings raising awareness of the potential risk of flooding for Argyll, Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Easter Ross and Tayside. | The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued flood alerts and flood warnings raising awareness of the potential risk of flooding for Argyll, Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Easter Ross and Tayside. |
| The first amber warning issued covers western, central and parts of eastern Scotland and includes a forecast of winds gusting to 60mph or 70mph across wide areas and to 80mph on exposed coasts. | The first amber warning issued covers western, central and parts of eastern Scotland and 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 wind speeds have been forecast to reduce during Friday afternoon. |
| An amber warning for winds gusting to 90mph has been issued for the Northern Isles. The conditions in Orkney and Shetland are not expected to ease until 17:00. | An amber warning for winds gusting to 90mph has been issued for the Northern Isles. The conditions in Orkney and Shetland are not expected to ease until 17:00. |
| Travel disruption | Travel disruption |
| ScotRail has warned that no trains are expected to run on the following lines from start of service until late afternoon on Friday: | ScotRail has warned that no trains are expected to run on the following lines from start of service until late afternoon on Friday: |
| ScotRail also said the following services will reduce in frequency: | ScotRail also said the following services will reduce in frequency: |
| Users of the Forth Road Bridge have been warned to be prepared for disruption. | Users of the Forth Road Bridge have been warned to be prepared for disruption. |
| The bridge's operators said it was likely to be open to cars only during the morning peak period and a full bridge closure was possible for a time from about 08:00. | The bridge's operators said it was likely to be open to cars only during the morning peak period and a full bridge closure was possible for a time from about 08:00. |
| 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." |
| Gale or severe gale force winds have also been forecast for Monday, according to the Met Office. | Gale or severe gale force winds have also been forecast for Monday, according to the Met Office. |
| Meanwhile, out at sea, charts produced by surfers' website Magicseaweed.com forecast swells of up to 48ft (14m) to the west and north of Scotland. | Meanwhile, out at sea, charts produced by surfers' website Magicseaweed.com forecast swells of up to 48ft (14m) to the west and north of Scotland. |
| Scottish Borders Council said it had begun planning for potential flooding in its area. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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." |
| 'High risk' | 'High risk' |
| 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. | 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. |
| Transport Minister Derek Mackay said "some very difficult weather conditions" have been forecast. | Transport Minister Derek Mackay said "some very difficult weather conditions" have been forecast. |
| He said: "Winds of this severity bring a high risk of disruption, leading to cancelled ferries, train services and restrictions or closures on bridges. The gale force winds will also make high-sided vehicles particularly prone to being blown over. | He said: "Winds of this severity bring a high risk of disruption, leading to cancelled ferries, train services and restrictions or closures on bridges. The gale force winds will also make high-sided vehicles particularly prone to being blown over. |
| "We are in regular contact with the transport operators regarding the situation. They do not take the decision to cancel services lightly, but safety is paramount." | "We are in regular contact with the transport operators regarding the situation. They do not take the decision to cancel services lightly, but safety is paramount." |
| Mr Mackay added: "Before heading out, people need to consider the conditions. They should listen to radio reports, visit the Traffic Scotland website or twitter feed and take note of the latest police advice." | Mr Mackay added: "Before heading out, people need to consider the conditions. They should listen to radio reports, visit the Traffic Scotland website or twitter feed and take note of the latest police advice." |
| 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. | 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." | 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." |