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Scottish storm: Driver dies as winds cause travel chaos and power cuts Scottish storm: Driver dies as winds cause travel chaos and power cuts
(35 minutes later)
A lorry driver has died after high winds caused travel chaos across Scotland, with trains halted and people being warned not to drive.A lorry driver has died after high winds caused travel chaos across Scotland, with trains halted and people being warned not to drive.
Police Scotland said the man died at the scene when his HGV was blown on top of two cars in Bathgate, West Lothian.Police Scotland said the man died at the scene when his HGV was blown on top of two cars in Bathgate, West Lothian.
Network Rail withdrew all trains but, at about 13:30, limited passenger services resumed from Edinburgh.Network Rail withdrew all trains but, at about 13:30, limited passenger services resumed from Edinburgh.
About 100,000 homes are without power, with winds gusting over 140mph recorded on Aonach Mor in the Highlands. By 15:00 on Thursday, about 68,000 customers remained without electricity, down from a peak of over 100,000.
The Met Office also recorded a gust of 106mph at Glenogle in Stirlingshire. Of those still offline, 20,000 were in Scottish Power's area and 48,000 in the area served by Scottish Hydro.
Winds reached 59mph in Edinburgh and 63mph in Glasgow. 'Avoid travelling'
It issued an amber warning of westerly gales, with widespread gusts of 80 to 90 mph across the country, valid until 16:00 on Thursday. At the height of the storm, winds gusting over 140mph were recorded on Aonach Mor in the Highlands.
At the peak of the storm during the morning, Police Scotland escalated its travel warning to stage four red, and advised drivers to avoid travelling on the roads in the south, west, central belt and into south Perthshire. The Met Office also recorded a gust of 106mph at Glenogle in Stirlingshire. Winds reached 59mph in Edinburgh and 63mph in Glasgow.
The stage four warning remains in place for Dumfries and Galloway, but has since been reduced to stage three for the rest of the country - meaning there is a high risk of disruption. In Aberdeen, the River Dee has burst its banks at Riverside Drive.
A man was rescued after a tree fell on his car just after 8:00 in Davidson Main's Park in Edinburgh. There is a similar problem with the River Ness in Inverness at Huntly Street, where work was being carried out on new flood barriers.
By 15:00, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) had issued 19 flood warnings.
These cover parts of central Scotland, Lothian, Fife, Easter Ross, Caithness and Sutherland.
During the morning, Police Scotland escalated its travel warning to stage four red, and advised drivers to avoid travelling on the roads in the south, west, central belt and into south Perthshire.
By mid-afternoon, that had been reduced to stage two, meaning Scottish road users should travel with caution.
The only exception was Grampian, which remains at stage three.
A man was rescued after a tree fell on his car just after 08:00 in Davidson Main's Park in Edinburgh.
And a man and woman were taken to Hairmyres Hospital after a tree fell on a taxi in Hamilton's Bothwell Road.And a man and woman were taken to Hairmyres Hospital after a tree fell on a taxi in Hamilton's Bothwell Road.
A spokeswoman for First ScotRail said it had carried out a "controlled shutdown of the rail network".A spokeswoman for First ScotRail said it had carried out a "controlled shutdown of the rail network".
She said passengers on trains were brought into the nearest stations and taxis were arranged. In some cases, people were taken to nearby hotels.She said passengers on trains were brought into the nearest stations and taxis were arranged. In some cases, people were taken to nearby hotels.
Rail lines
ScotRail managing director Steve Montgomery told the BBC News channel: "We've had various problems, with trampolines, we've had haystacks on the line, we've had numerous trees and telegraph poles, right across the whole of the network in Scotland.ScotRail managing director Steve Montgomery told the BBC News channel: "We've had various problems, with trampolines, we've had haystacks on the line, we've had numerous trees and telegraph poles, right across the whole of the network in Scotland.
"We will gradually introduce services later in the day again but it is going to be a challenge for Network Rail to get out there and make sure all the lines are safe.""We will gradually introduce services later in the day again but it is going to be a challenge for Network Rail to get out there and make sure all the lines are safe."
Network Rail said some routes would remain unavailable throughout the day as more extensive repairs may be required.
They advised passengers to check before they travelled.
Glasgow Central Station was closed all morning after being evacuated due to debris smashing glass in the roof.Glasgow Central Station was closed all morning after being evacuated due to debris smashing glass in the roof.
No-one was hurt and arriving passengers were escorted from the building by station staff.No-one was hurt and arriving passengers were escorted from the building by station staff.
Scottish Fire and Rescue said they were struggling to cope with the number of calls they were receiving about falling masonry, fallen trees and road accidents.Scottish Fire and Rescue said they were struggling to cope with the number of calls they were receiving about falling masonry, fallen trees and road accidents.
Many bridges were closed during the peak of the storm including: the Forth Road Bridge, Tay Bridge, M90 Friarton Bridge, A876 Clackmannanshire Bridge, A9 Dornoch Bridge, Skye Bridge, Erskine Bridge and Kessock Bridge Many bridges were closed during the peak of the storm including: the Forth Road Bridge, Tay Bridge, M90 Friarton Bridge, A876 Clackmannanshire Bridge, A9 Dornoch Bridge, Skye Bridge, Erskine Bridge and Kessock Bridge.
The Tay Bridge has since reopened to all traffic except double-decker buses and Forth Road Bridge has reopened to cars. The Tay Bridge has since reopened to all traffic except double-decker buses and the Forth Road Bridge has reopened to cars.
First Minister Alex Salmond told the Scottish Parliament that the number of closed schools stood at 195 at 10:45. School closures
By 14:00, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) had issued 18 flood warnings. Speaking at Holyrood, First Minister Alex Salmond told the Scottish Parliament that 195 schools had been closed because of the weather conditions.
These cover parts of central Scotland, Lothian, Fife, Easter Ross, Caithness and Sutherland. Mr Salmond praised the "outstanding work of the emergency services" in responding to the severe weather.
Morven Smith from Scottish Hydro told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that extra engineers had been enlisted to deal with problems, with 80,000 customers in the north affected. Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont also praised the emergency services and other agencies working to get Scotland safe again.
At the peak of the storm, a further 50,000 of Scottish Power's customers in the south had power supplies cut, though this number has since fallen to 20,000 still without power.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne advised ferry travellers to take severe weather warnings into account when planning journeys in the next few days.Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne advised ferry travellers to take severe weather warnings into account when planning journeys in the next few days.
Air passengers were advised to check with airports and airlines before travelling.Air passengers were advised to check with airports and airlines before travelling.
The Dounreay nuclear site in Caithness has been shut to all but essential staff. About 800 people work at the complex. The Dounreay nuclear site in Caithness was shut to all but essential staff. About 800 people work at the complex.
The Scottish government said its resilience operation had been activated to liaise with authorities and organisations across the country and to co-ordinate any activity as required.The Scottish government said its resilience operation had been activated to liaise with authorities and organisations across the country and to co-ordinate any activity as required.
Transport Minister Keith Brown added: "I would urge the travelling public to consider the conditions before they set-off on their journeys." Transport Minister Keith Brown added: "I would urge the travelling public to consider the conditions before they set off on their journeys."
The winds are forecast to ease down in most areas in the course of Thursday afternoon. Freezing conditions are forecast for some areas however, including the Borders.The winds are forecast to ease down in most areas in the course of Thursday afternoon. Freezing conditions are forecast for some areas however, including the Borders.
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