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Warning of high winds and snow forecast for Scotland Warning of high winds and snow forecast for Scotland
(about 1 hour later)
Forecasters have warned of high winds and blizzard conditions affecting large parts of Scotland during Monday.Forecasters have warned of high winds and blizzard conditions affecting large parts of Scotland during Monday.
The Met Office has issued href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings/#?regionName=uk&tab=map&map=Warnings&zoom=5&lon=-4.50&lat=55.74&fcTime=1359892860" >a yellow "be aware" warning. The Met Office has issued href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings/#?tab=map" title="Link to Met Office warnings" >amber and yellow warnings.
Several schools in the Western Isles have been closed and about 200 properties in Lewis and Harris have lost power.Several schools in the Western Isles have been closed and about 200 properties in Lewis and Harris have lost power.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has reported disruption to 23 sailings. Some services have been cancelled, including the Uig to Tarbert sailing.Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has reported disruption to 23 sailings. Some services have been cancelled, including the Uig to Tarbert sailing.
CairnGorm Mountain ski centre said it was closed because of storm force to hurricane force winds.CairnGorm Mountain ski centre said it was closed because of storm force to hurricane force winds.
The centre said wind speeds at the summit of Cairn Gorm were between 70 and 80mph.The centre said wind speeds at the summit of Cairn Gorm were between 70 and 80mph.
The six schools shut in the Western Isles include Barra's Castlebay primary and secondary.The six schools shut in the Western Isles include Barra's Castlebay primary and secondary.
The Met Office has warned of heavy, squally wintry showers affecting many parts of Scotland through much of Monday.The Met Office has warned of heavy, squally wintry showers affecting many parts of Scotland through much of Monday.
Winds could gust to 50 to 60mph, it said. It has issued an amber "be prepared" warning for the Highlands, Western Isles, south Scotland, Lothian, Tayside, Fife and Strathclyde.
A yellow "be aware" warning has been issued for other parts of Scotland, including the north east and Northern Isles.
Winds could gust to gale force, it said.
It has forecasted 10 to 20cm of snow on higher level routes, with drifting and temporary blizzard conditions.It has forecasted 10 to 20cm of snow on higher level routes, with drifting and temporary blizzard conditions.
In the mountains it said conditions would be "atrocious".In the mountains it said conditions would be "atrocious".
The Met Office said there could be could five to 10cm of snowfall, with some drifting, at lower levels.The Met Office said there could be could five to 10cm of snowfall, with some drifting, at lower levels.
Scientists at Lews Castle College UHI have been measuring what they described as "extreme" wave heights in the sea off Lewis. Scientists at Lews Castle College UHI have been measuring what they described as "extreme" wave heights in the sea off west Lewis.
Arne Vogler, a senior research engineer and principle investigator at the Hebridean Marine Energy Futures project, said hurricane force gusts had also been recorded.Arne Vogler, a senior research engineer and principle investigator at the Hebridean Marine Energy Futures project, said hurricane force gusts had also been recorded.
He said: "Today we are measuring some extreme wave heights with averages of 12m and maximum waves of 20m.He said: "Today we are measuring some extreme wave heights with averages of 12m and maximum waves of 20m.
"The sea is still building up and even higher waves are anticipated during the day."The sea is still building up and even higher waves are anticipated during the day.
"For context, average wave heights depend highly on the time of the year. In the winter we quite often see heights of 3-5m, where in the summer this is often down to 0.5-2m.""For context, average wave heights depend highly on the time of the year. In the winter we quite often see heights of 3-5m, where in the summer this is often down to 0.5-2m."
Mr Volger said the waves were energy rich.
He said that if it was possible to harness the power of waves hitting the entire length of the Western Isles' Atlantic coastline on Monday, they would equate to 120 nuclear power stations on maximum electricity generation output.