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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| High wind warning for Scotland upgraded by Met Office | High wind warning for Scotland upgraded by Met Office |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The Met Office has upgraded its warnings for high winds which have been forecast to hit much of Scotland on Thursday morning. | The Met Office has upgraded its warnings for high winds which have been forecast to hit much of Scotland on Thursday morning. |
| The agency had issued a yellow "be aware" warning, but this has been upgraded to amber "be prepared". | The agency had issued a yellow "be aware" warning, but this has been upgraded to amber "be prepared". |
| It predicted widespread gusts of 60 to 70mph, although these could be as high as 90mph in exposed parts of the north and west. | It predicted widespread gusts of 60 to 70mph, although these could be as high as 90mph in exposed parts of the north and west. |
| The winds are forecast to ease down by in most areas by Thursday afternoon. | The winds are forecast to ease down by in most areas by Thursday afternoon. |
| The amber warning covers most parts of Scotland, although the lesser yellow warning remains in place in Grampian. | The amber warning covers most parts of Scotland, although the lesser yellow warning remains in place in Grampian. |
| The winds are likely to impact on ferry services and lead to speed restrictions on some bridges. Network Rail and ScotRail have also warned of reduced services and emergency speed restrictions on some routes. | The winds are likely to impact on ferry services and lead to speed restrictions on some bridges. Network Rail and ScotRail have also warned of reduced services and emergency speed restrictions on some routes. |
| And commuters and motorists were urged to prepare for challenging conditions in the morning rush hour. | And commuters and motorists were urged to prepare for challenging conditions in the morning rush hour. |
| Senior Met Office advisor Graeme Forrester said: "The worst of the conditions are forecast in the Highlands and northern Scotland. However, parts of the central belt will also be affected by some very strong winds during Thursday morning's rush hour period." | Senior Met Office advisor Graeme Forrester said: "The worst of the conditions are forecast in the Highlands and northern Scotland. However, parts of the central belt will also be affected by some very strong winds during Thursday morning's rush hour period." |
| Flood warnings | |
| The Met Office said there was also the potential for "significant coastal flooding" in parts of southeast Scotland. | The Met Office said there was also the potential for "significant coastal flooding" in parts of southeast Scotland. |
| The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has put a number of flood warnings in place for central Scotland, Fife, and Edinburgh and the Lothians. | |
| Less serious flood alerts were also in place in several other parts of the country, including Argyll and Bute, Caithness and Sutherland, Orkney, Skye and Lochaber, the Scottish Borders and the Western Isles. | |
| Forecasters said snow showers were likely to affect the north of the country on Thursday, initially across Shetland but then quickly extending south to the mainland through the morning. | |
| These wintry showers will be most frequent across the Northern Isles, the north Highlands and northern Aberdeenshire, the Met Office said, although could extend into more central areas of the country. | These wintry showers will be most frequent across the Northern Isles, the north Highlands and northern Aberdeenshire, the Met Office said, although could extend into more central areas of the country. |
| Accumulations of 2 to 5cm are possible in places on low ground, with 10 to 20cm possible on higher ground. | Accumulations of 2 to 5cm are possible in places on low ground, with 10 to 20cm possible on higher ground. |
| In addition, the strong northerly winds will lead to some drifting, with blizzard conditions possible at times over high ground. | In addition, the strong northerly winds will lead to some drifting, with blizzard conditions possible at times over high ground. |
| Icy conditions may also develop on some roads on Thursday night and Friday morning, and the public was warned to be aware of the potential for disruption, particularly to travel. | Icy conditions may also develop on some roads on Thursday night and Friday morning, and the public was warned to be aware of the potential for disruption, particularly to travel. |
| Higher pressure is expected return from the west during Friday and cause the snow showers to ease, before milder conditions return into the weekend. | Higher pressure is expected return from the west during Friday and cause the snow showers to ease, before milder conditions return into the weekend. |
| The Scottish government said its Multi Agency Response Team would be operational for the duration of the alerts. | The Scottish government said its Multi Agency Response Team would be operational for the duration of the alerts. |
| Martin Thomson, the winter resilience manager for government agency Transport Scotland, said: "I would urge the travelling public to consider the conditions before they set-off on their journeys. | Martin Thomson, the winter resilience manager for government agency Transport Scotland, said: "I would urge the travelling public to consider the conditions before they set-off on their journeys. |
| "They should listen to radio reports, visit the Traffic Scotland website or twitter feed, and carefully consider police advice." | "They should listen to radio reports, visit the Traffic Scotland website or twitter feed, and carefully consider police advice." |