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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 people being warned not to drive and all trains cancelled.A lorry driver has died after high winds caused travel chaos across Scotland, with people being warned not to drive and all trains cancelled.
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 said no trains would run for safety reasons due to the amount of fallen trees and debris on the tracks. Network Rail withdrew all trains for safety reasons due to the amount of fallen trees and debris on the tracks.
About 100,000 homes are without power, with winds gusting over 140mph recorded on Aonach Mor in the Highlands.About 100,000 homes are without power, with winds gusting over 140mph recorded on Aonach Mor in the Highlands.
The Met Office also recorded a gust of 106mph at Glenogle in Stirlingshire.The Met Office also recorded a gust of 106mph at Glenogle in Stirlingshire.
It issued a yellow warning of westerly gales, with widespread gusts of 60 to 70 mph across the country, valid until 16:00 on Thursday. 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 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.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 stage four warning remains in place for Dumfries & Galloway, but has since been reduced to stage three for the rest of the country - meaning there is a high risk of disruption.The stage four warning remains in place for Dumfries & Galloway, but has since been reduced to stage three for the rest of the country - meaning there is a high risk of disruption.
Police Scotland said the lorry driver died after his HGV was blown on top of two cars at Boghead Roundabout in Bathgate at 08:10.
A man was rescued after a tree fell on his car just after 8:00 in Davidson Main's Park in Edinburgh.A man was rescued after a tree fell on his car just after 8:00 in Davidson Main's Park in Edinburgh.
It was earlier being reported that a person was trapped in a taxi in Bothwell Road in Hamilton. BBC Scotland understands that a car went into a loch on the A816 near Kilmerfort in Argyll - it was not known if anyone was inside. Earlier it was reported that a person was trapped in a taxi in Bothwell Road in Hamilton. BBC Scotland understands that a car went into a loch on the A816 near Kilmerfort in Argyll - it was not known if anyone was inside.
It said conditions were "extremely dangerous" on the roads and motorists would experience severe disruption and delays. A spokeswoman for First ScotRail said it had carried out a "controlled shutdown of the rail network".
Network Rail said it had withdrawn all services. In addition, Glasgow Central Station is closed after being evacuated due to debris smashing glass in the roof. She said passengers on trains were brought into the nearest stations and taxis were arranged. In some cases, people were taken to nearby hotels.
No-one has been hurt and arriving passengers were escorted from the building by station staff. Network Rail has since said it will send out "route proving trains" to check the lines, to see if it is now possible to re-open any lines.
A spokeswoman for First ScotRail said passengers on trains were being brought into the nearest stations and taxis were being arranged. In some cases, people were being taken to nearby hotels. Glasgow Central Station was closed after being evacuated due to debris smashing glass in the roof.
"This is a controlled shutdown of the rail network," she said. No-one was hurt and arriving passengers were escorted from the building by station staff.
"We are getting customers off trains and getting them taxis to where they need to be.
"But we are letting them stay on the trains to make calls if they need to."
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.
The Tay Bridge has reopened to all traffic except double-decker buses and Forth Road Bridge has reopened to cars. Many bridges were closed during the peak of the storm including: Forth Road Bridge, Tay Bridge, M90 Friarton Bridge, A876 Clackmannanshire Bridge, A9 Dornoch Bridge, Skye Bridge, Erskine Bridge and Kessock Bridge
Bridges that remain closed include: 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.
More than 160 schools were closed across Scotland. First Minister Alex Salmond told the Scottish Parliament that the number of closed schools stood at 195 at 10:45.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), had issued twelve flood warnings. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), issued twelve flood warnings.
These cover parts of central Scotland, Lothian, Fife, Skye and Lochaber.These cover parts of central Scotland, Lothian, Fife, Skye and Lochaber.
The winds are forecast to ease down in most areas by Thursday afternoon.
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.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.
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.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 have said the forecast is looking particularly severe and are advising all ferry travellers to take this 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 are 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 has been shut to all but essential staff. About 800 people work at the complex.
The Scottish government has warned of potential disruption over the day due to the severe winter gales on east and west coasts. The Scottish government has warned of potential disruption over the day.
It said its resilience operation had been activated to liaise with authorities and organisations across the country and to co-ordinate any activity as required.It 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."
He added: "People should listen to radio reports or visit the Traffic Scotland website or twitter feed, and carefully consider police advice."He added: "People should listen to radio reports or visit the Traffic Scotland website or twitter feed, and carefully consider police advice."
The winds are forecast to ease down in most areas by Thursday afternoon.
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