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| Disruption as Storm Barbara starts moving across Scotland | Disruption as Storm Barbara starts moving across Scotland |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Storm Barbara has started crossing Scotland, causing power cuts, school closures and difficult travelling conditions. | Storm Barbara has started crossing Scotland, causing power cuts, school closures and difficult travelling conditions. |
| The highest wind speeds are forecast for the Western Isles, Skye, the north west coast and Northern Isles, with gusts expected of 80-90 mph. | The highest wind speeds are forecast for the Western Isles, Skye, the north west coast and Northern Isles, with gusts expected of 80-90 mph. |
| Wintry showers and ice have also been forecast for large parts of Scotland. | Wintry showers and ice have also been forecast for large parts of Scotland. |
| An amber alert has now been issued for the Northern Isles and part of north Caithness on Boxing Day. | An amber alert has now been issued for the Northern Isles and part of north Caithness on Boxing Day. |
| The Met Office has named it Storm Conor and is forecasting winds gusting to 70-80mph - possibly reaching 90mph in some areas. | The Met Office has named it Storm Conor and is forecasting winds gusting to 70-80mph - possibly reaching 90mph in some areas. |
| It also has an amber "be prepared" warning for Storm Barbara and yellow "be aware" warnings in place for high winds at the weekend and Monday and wintery showers and ice for large parts of Scotland on Friday into Saturday. | It also has an amber "be prepared" warning for Storm Barbara and yellow "be aware" warnings in place for high winds at the weekend and Monday and wintery showers and ice for large parts of Scotland on Friday into Saturday. |
| Wind speeds on Friday have been recorded gusting to 74mph on South Uist, 67mph in Stornoway on Lewis and 66mph on Fair Isle in Shetland, the Met Office said. | Wind speeds on Friday have been recorded gusting to 74mph on South Uist, 67mph in Stornoway on Lewis and 66mph on Fair Isle in Shetland, the Met Office said. |
| Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has urged people to check weather forecasts and travel information before setting out on journeys over the next few days. | Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has urged people to check weather forecasts and travel information before setting out on journeys over the next few days. |
| He added: "We shall be continuing to monitor the situation over the festive period including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day to make sure that the most reliable and relevant information is being communicated to people as early as possible." | He added: "We shall be continuing to monitor the situation over the festive period including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day to make sure that the most reliable and relevant information is being communicated to people as early as possible." |
| Weather has been causing some disruption across Scotland. | Weather has been causing some disruption across Scotland. |
| Almost 120 school sites involving a total of more than 8,500 pupils, are shut in the Highlands on Friday and ferries to the Northern and Western Isles have been cancelled. | Almost 120 school sites involving a total of more than 8,500 pupils, are shut in the Highlands on Friday and ferries to the Northern and Western Isles have been cancelled. |
| Some train services have also been affected, and all bus services on the Western Isles have been cancelled. | Some train services have also been affected, and all bus services on the Western Isles have been cancelled. |
| Power cuts have been affecting properties in parts of Lewis and South Uist in the Western Isles, around Knockando in Moray and Assynt and near Loch Broom in the Highlands. | Power cuts have been affecting properties in parts of Lewis and South Uist in the Western Isles, around Knockando in Moray and Assynt and near Loch Broom in the Highlands. |
| Electricity company SSE said it was working to restore power. | Electricity company SSE said it was working to restore power. |
| Met Office warnings | Met Office warnings |
| The firm is also on "yellow alert", meaning it is increasing the levels of its frontline and support staff that are on stand-by and moving engineers, plant and welfare facilities to the areas it expects to be affected by the storm. | The firm is also on "yellow alert", meaning it is increasing the levels of its frontline and support staff that are on stand-by and moving engineers, plant and welfare facilities to the areas it expects to be affected by the storm. |
| In Edinburgh, high winds have led to the closure of St Andrew Square, along with city centre entertainment such as the Starflyer, Big Wheel, climbing wall and Scottish market. | In Edinburgh, high winds have led to the closure of St Andrew Square, along with city centre entertainment such as the Starflyer, Big Wheel, climbing wall and Scottish market. |
| Friday was due to be the last day of term for pupils in the Highlands. The council posted details of the closures on its website. | Friday was due to be the last day of term for pupils in the Highlands. The council posted details of the closures on its website. |
| CalMac said all sailings to the Outer Hebrides and between the islands have been cancelled for the rest of the day. The ferry operator has warned of the possibility of further disruption. | CalMac said all sailings to the Outer Hebrides and between the islands have been cancelled for the rest of the day. The ferry operator has warned of the possibility of further disruption. |
| Operations director Drew Collier said: "There is little sign of let-up over the next few days, however, so the disruption is highly likely to continue right across the weekend and Boxing Day - although each and every sailing will be kept under constant review and we will assess weather windows as and when they present themselves. | Operations director Drew Collier said: "There is little sign of let-up over the next few days, however, so the disruption is highly likely to continue right across the weekend and Boxing Day - although each and every sailing will be kept under constant review and we will assess weather windows as and when they present themselves. |
| "I cannot stress strongly enough the need for customers to continue to pay close attention to weather forecasts over the festive weekend and to keep a frequent eye on our service updates - these are constantly updated and reflect the most accurate picture of services." | "I cannot stress strongly enough the need for customers to continue to pay close attention to weather forecasts over the festive weekend and to keep a frequent eye on our service updates - these are constantly updated and reflect the most accurate picture of services." |
| In Scotland's highest hills, where there has been snow falling this week, the winds and milder temperatures have triggered a thaw. | |
| The Scottish Avalanche Information Service's Glencoe team has reported burns being in spate and also strong winds blowing torrents of melt-water back up the north face of the mountain Aonach Dubh. | |
| For Storm Barbara, the Met Office has issued an amber warning for the Northern Isles, the Western Isles and Northwest Scotland. | For Storm Barbara, the Met Office has issued an amber warning for the Northern Isles, the Western Isles and Northwest Scotland. |
| It suggests gusts of 80-90 mph are likely in the afternoon and evening. | It suggests gusts of 80-90 mph are likely in the afternoon and evening. |
| The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has flood alerts in place in many parts of Scotland. | The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has flood alerts in place in many parts of Scotland. |
| Network Rail warned that some train services will be affected. They included a reduced service between Glasgow and Oban. | Network Rail warned that some train services will be affected. They included a reduced service between Glasgow and Oban. |
| A similar reduction in services will apply between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh, as well as Inverness to Wick. | A similar reduction in services will apply between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh, as well as Inverness to Wick. |
| ScotRail has listed the services it expects to be disrupted. | ScotRail has listed the services it expects to be disrupted. |
| Meanwhile, in Orkney, a bakery on Westray has offered to make its industrial ovens available for cooking turkeys for anyone on the island who finds themselves without electricity while trying to make Christmas dinner. | Meanwhile, in Orkney, a bakery on Westray has offered to make its industrial ovens available for cooking turkeys for anyone on the island who finds themselves without electricity while trying to make Christmas dinner. |
| Brown's Bakers has its own generators - which can be used to power the ovens. | Brown's Bakers has its own generators - which can be used to power the ovens. |
| Louise Drever, who runs the business with her husband Duncan, said they could potentially cook up to about 60 turkeys at one time. | Louise Drever, who runs the business with her husband Duncan, said they could potentially cook up to about 60 turkeys at one time. |
| Ferry operator CalMac said it was able to make a delivery of Christmas turkeys to the Isle of Barra before its services were disrupted. | Ferry operator CalMac said it was able to make a delivery of Christmas turkeys to the Isle of Barra before its services were disrupted. |
| Check out the latest travel news for Scotland | Check out the latest travel news for Scotland |
| For the latest on the roads visit the BBC's travel news page and keep up to date with incidents and roadworks on the motorways here. | For the latest on the roads visit the BBC's travel news page and keep up to date with incidents and roadworks on the motorways here. |
| Around the country you can check for updates from: | Around the country you can check for updates from: |
| Alternatively, for regular travel bulletins listen live to BBC Radio Scotland and follow @BBCTravelScot. | Alternatively, for regular travel bulletins listen live to BBC Radio Scotland and follow @BBCTravelScot. |
| In times of severe disruption you can also follow the BBC Scotland severe weather Twitter list of key sources. | In times of severe disruption you can also follow the BBC Scotland severe weather Twitter list of key sources. |
| Below are a number of other traffic information sources. | Below are a number of other traffic information sources. |
| Are you affected by Storm Barbara? If you have an experience you would like to share, or pictures of where you are, then share it with us in the following ways: | Are you affected by Storm Barbara? If you have an experience you would like to share, or pictures of where you are, then share it with us in the following ways: |
| Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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| Text us on 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 if you are outside the UK | Text us on 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 if you are outside the UK |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |