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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/29/storm-gertrude-power-cuts-travel-disruption-hits-britain
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| Power cuts and travel disruption as Storm Gertrude hits Britain | Power cuts and travel disruption as Storm Gertrude hits Britain |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| About 8,500 properties in Scotland are without electricity as Storm Gertrude sweeps across Britain causing power cuts and travel disruption and triggering a red weather warning. | |
| Emergency services were called after two lorries were blown over on the A96 near Huntly, in Aberdeenshire, and on the M9 near Dunblane, Stirling, in the early hours. The extent of any injuries is not known. | Emergency services were called after two lorries were blown over on the A96 near Huntly, in Aberdeenshire, and on the M9 near Dunblane, Stirling, in the early hours. The extent of any injuries is not known. |
| Drivers also had to avoid a trampoline that had been tossed on to the Newtonhill flyover near the A90 in Aberdeen at around 6am. Police Scotland said a member of the public moved it from the road and officers were not needed. A force spokesman advised people to peg down trampolines and garden furniture in high winds. Gusts in some areas of Scotland have reached 91mph. | Drivers also had to avoid a trampoline that had been tossed on to the Newtonhill flyover near the A90 in Aberdeen at around 6am. Police Scotland said a member of the public moved it from the road and officers were not needed. A force spokesman advised people to peg down trampolines and garden furniture in high winds. Gusts in some areas of Scotland have reached 91mph. |
| Northern Ireland has been battered by 70mph gales bringing down trees, closing roads, and damaging power lines, leaving 5,000 households without power. | Northern Ireland has been battered by 70mph gales bringing down trees, closing roads, and damaging power lines, leaving 5,000 households without power. |
| Heavy rain, snow and ice were forecast in some areas on Friday as the extreme weather continued. A Met Office said a red “take action” wind warning was in place for Shetland. It is the first red warning this month. | |
| An amber “be prepared” warning for wind is in place for Northern Ireland, Scotland and north-west and north-east England, and yellow “be aware” warnings for rain, snow and ice are in place across much of the UK. | |
| Storm Gertrude arrived on Thursday night from the Atlantic on a powerful jet stream. Severe gales of up to 100mph are expected on Friday afternoon. | |
| #StormGertrude has been officially named and will bring severe gales to parts of N Britain https://t.co/ziqeF8QF1E pic.twitter.com/FYjsmq4R2G | #StormGertrude has been officially named and will bring severe gales to parts of N Britain https://t.co/ziqeF8QF1E pic.twitter.com/FYjsmq4R2G |
| Paul Gundersen, the chief operational meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “A rapidly deepening area of low pressure is expected to bring a spell of severe weather across northern Britain on Friday. | Paul Gundersen, the chief operational meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “A rapidly deepening area of low pressure is expected to bring a spell of severe weather across northern Britain on Friday. |
| “There remains some uncertainty over the exact track and intensity of the storm, so people are urged to keep up to date with the latest UK forecast and severe weather warnings so that they can prepare for the weather.” | “There remains some uncertainty over the exact track and intensity of the storm, so people are urged to keep up to date with the latest UK forecast and severe weather warnings so that they can prepare for the weather.” |
| He added: “However, there is higher confidence now in the likelihood of a period of very strong winds early on Friday with a spell of storm-force winds across the Northern Isles.” | He added: “However, there is higher confidence now in the likelihood of a period of very strong winds early on Friday with a spell of storm-force winds across the Northern Isles.” |
| Almost 40 flood warnings have been put in place by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency covering Ayrshire, Tayside, west central Scotland and the Highlands. | Almost 40 flood warnings have been put in place by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency covering Ayrshire, Tayside, west central Scotland and the Highlands. |
| A landslide closed the A82 at Letterfinlay, in the Highlands, resulting in a 150-mile (240km) diversion for journeys between Fort William and Inverness. | A landslide closed the A82 at Letterfinlay, in the Highlands, resulting in a 150-mile (240km) diversion for journeys between Fort William and Inverness. |
| Other routes have been disrupted by fallen trees, and the Forth, Tay and Kessock bridges have been closed. | Other routes have been disrupted by fallen trees, and the Forth, Tay and Kessock bridges have been closed. |
| Related: Storm Gertrude's high winds and heavy rain to cause travel disruption | Related: Storm Gertrude's high winds and heavy rain to cause travel disruption |
| Gusts of 91mph were recorded in South Uist, in the Western Isles, and on the mainland winds of 69mph hit the Forth road bridge and Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire. | Gusts of 91mph were recorded in South Uist, in the Western Isles, and on the mainland winds of 69mph hit the Forth road bridge and Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire. |
| Wind speeds are expected to reach about 65mph in the Scottish Borders and north-east England later in the day and will push 80mph in North Yorkshire. | Wind speeds are expected to reach about 65mph in the Scottish Borders and north-east England later in the day and will push 80mph in North Yorkshire. |
| The energy firm Scottish Hydro said it was working to reconnect hundreds of homes in the west and north-east of Scotland that had lost power in the high winds. A spokesperson said: “We have 400 frontline and support staff standing by and we have moved engineers to the areas we expect to be hit by the storm. Mobile generators and other resources are also being moved. | The energy firm Scottish Hydro said it was working to reconnect hundreds of homes in the west and north-east of Scotland that had lost power in the high winds. A spokesperson said: “We have 400 frontline and support staff standing by and we have moved engineers to the areas we expect to be hit by the storm. Mobile generators and other resources are also being moved. |
| “Members of the public should not approach fallen or damaged power lines, which may still be live.” . | “Members of the public should not approach fallen or damaged power lines, which may still be live.” . |
| All schools in the Northern and Western Isles have been closed and train and ferry services vastly reduced in Scotland. | All schools in the Northern and Western Isles have been closed and train and ferry services vastly reduced in Scotland. |
| ScotRail announced a raft of cancellations, particularly affecting the Highlands, with 18 services disrupted. Operators said hundreds of engineers would be deployed across the network to inspect lines, repair damage and reopen routes as quickly as possible. | ScotRail announced a raft of cancellations, particularly affecting the Highlands, with 18 services disrupted. Operators said hundreds of engineers would be deployed across the network to inspect lines, repair damage and reopen routes as quickly as possible. |
| Phil Verster, the alliance managing director at ScotRail, said: “We will be withdrawing some services until the worst of the storm has passed. The safety of our passengers and workforce is our top priority and we cannot run services on these lines until our engineers have thoroughly inspected the network for any damage.” | Phil Verster, the alliance managing director at ScotRail, said: “We will be withdrawing some services until the worst of the storm has passed. The safety of our passengers and workforce is our top priority and we cannot run services on these lines until our engineers have thoroughly inspected the network for any damage.” |
| Derek Mackay, Scotland’s transport minister, said: “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.” | Derek Mackay, Scotland’s transport minister, said: “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.” |
| A succession of storms since December – including Desmond, Eva and Frank – have caused widespread flooding and travel disruption. The latest front is expected to stay through the weekend. | A succession of storms since December – including Desmond, Eva and Frank – have caused widespread flooding and travel disruption. The latest front is expected to stay through the weekend. |