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Power cuts across Scotland after storms Power cuts across Scotland after storms
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of homes and businesses have been left without power overnight after storms brought down electricity cables.Thousands of homes and businesses have been left without power overnight after storms brought down electricity cables.
Scottish Hydro Electric said about 20,000 of its customers were yet to be reconnected. The bulk of them were around Tayside and Argyll. Scottish Hydro Electric said about 20,000 of its customers were yet to be reconnected.
It said 500 engineers were working to restore power supplies. Scottish Power said about 4,000 customers were still without electricity.
Scottish Power said 5,000 customers were still without power, down from a peak of 20,000 during Monday. Fife and Central Scotland were worst affected. The high winds across the country had eased on Tuesday but there was still some disruption on the road and rail networks.
The energy company said extra engineers from Merseyside and Wales had arrived on Monday evening. The power companies said extra engineers working to restore supplies overnight had been hampered by the continued bad weather.
It said most of the damage had been caused by trees or branches falling on power lines after the winds reached speeds of 100mph. Scottish Hydro said the bulk of their customers still without power were in Tayside and Argyll area.
One man died when a tree fell and crushed his car in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire on Monday afternoon. The worst affected areas for Scottish Power were Fife and Central Scotland.
The high winds also led to the closure of the Forth and Tay Road Bridges and many rail services were cancelled. Paul Ferguson, a spokesman for Scottish Power, told BBC Scotland: "We have extra resources and engineers out this morning.
In Edinburgh, cladding blew off the airport's roof in the stromy weather. "We may see some customers, unfortunately, going without power into this evening due to the high number of faults we have to fix.
The poor weather conditions continued late into Monday, hampering efforts of power engineers to reach customers to reconnect their supplies. "But we can reassure customers that we will direct our resources where they are needed."
Most of the damage to power lines was caused by trees or branches falling after the winds reached speeds of 100mph.
For about half-an-hour on Monday evening, shops, offices and householders in Inverness had no electricity.For about half-an-hour on Monday evening, shops, offices and householders in Inverness had no electricity.
Ross Easton, a spokesman for Scottish Hydro Electric, which covers most of Scotland's northern regions, said: "Our worst hit area was in Inverness, as a high number of people were without power.Ross Easton, a spokesman for Scottish Hydro Electric, which covers most of Scotland's northern regions, said: "Our worst hit area was in Inverness, as a high number of people were without power.
"This is now back up and running."This is now back up and running.
"We are well versed in this type of event, storms are not new to us but the weather conditions were very severe."We are well versed in this type of event, storms are not new to us but the weather conditions were very severe.
"We have engineers out and we will try to reconnect customers as quickly as we can.""We have engineers out and we will try to reconnect customers as quickly as we can."
Winds across the country have eased on Tuesday but there are high wind warnings on the Skye, Kessock and Friarton bridges, with a 40mph speed restriction on the Forth Road Bridge. One man died on Monday when a tree fell and crushed his car in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire.
In Edinburgh, cladding blew off the airport's roof in the stormy weather.
Some schools and nurseries across the country remained closed on Tuesday due to storm damage.
The Scottish government's resilience team was continuing to monitor the weather situation. It met twice on Monday and is due to reconvene later.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said the country had taken "a battering" and he praised workers who have been out for much of the night clearing fallen trees from roads and rail lines.
He said: "This is exceptional weather, which has created problems on the roads and the rail network, and for the ferries as well."
"The railways are more difficult because they have to approve the lines. They have to go along and inspect them and make sure there is no debris on the track itself, and that's been difficult.
"One way they normally do that, of course, is by helicopter, which, in itself, has presented some problems, but a lot of work has gone on and most of the lines have now reopened."
Some rail services remained cancelled or suspended on Tuesday.
A Scotrail spokesman said: "The Scottish rail network is experiencing disruption due to severe winds damaging overhead power lines and depositing debris on the tracks.
"It is expected that a number of routes will be restored throughout today."
High wind warnings remain in place on the Skye, Kessock and Friarton bridges, with a 40mph speed restriction on the Forth Road Bridge.
Some roads remain closed due to fallen trees and unsafe roofs.Some roads remain closed due to fallen trees and unsafe roofs.
There is also disruption on the rails.
Do you have pictures - still or moving - showing the impact of high winds? Send them to the BBC Scotland news website at newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.ukDo you have pictures - still or moving - showing the impact of high winds? Send them to the BBC Scotland news website at newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk
Please ensure when filming or photographing an incident that you make your safety and the safety of others a priority.Please ensure when filming or photographing an incident that you make your safety and the safety of others a priority.
If you submit an image, you do so in accordance with the BBC's Terms and Conditions.If you submit an image, you do so in accordance with the BBC's Terms and Conditions.