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| Scotland weather: High winds and flooding warning | Scotland weather: High winds and flooding warning |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Christmas travellers face disruption with winds gusting up to 90mph expected to hit parts of Scotland. | Christmas travellers face disruption with winds gusting up to 90mph expected to hit parts of Scotland. |
| Amber "be prepared" warnings cover the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the north west Highlands, Argyll and Bute, Orkney and Shetland. | Amber "be prepared" warnings cover the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the north west Highlands, Argyll and Bute, Orkney and Shetland. |
| There have also been multiple warnings of flooding from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa). | There have also been multiple warnings of flooding from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa). |
| More than 20 "flooding is expected, immediate action required" warnings have been issued. | More than 20 "flooding is expected, immediate action required" warnings have been issued. |
| The worst affected area for flooding is likely to be the Borders. | The worst affected area for flooding is likely to be the Borders. |
| A mud landslide and a fallen tree blocked one of the main routes through the region - the A7 - south of Hawick. | A mud landslide and a fallen tree blocked one of the main routes through the region - the A7 - south of Hawick. |
| The gales lashing the Hebrides led to the cancellation of all Caledonian MacBrayne's ferry sailings between Ullapool and Stornoway and Uig and Tarbert. | |
| In an unprecedented move, CalMac said it would attempt to put on special sailings from Skye to North Uist and Harris on Christmas Day. | In an unprecedented move, CalMac said it would attempt to put on special sailings from Skye to North Uist and Harris on Christmas Day. |
| P&O Ferries has suspended sailings between the Northern Ireland port of Larne and Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway until further notice. | P&O Ferries has suspended sailings between the Northern Ireland port of Larne and Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway until further notice. |
| Transport Minister Keith Brown said the main disruption so far had been to ferries. | Transport Minister Keith Brown said the main disruption so far had been to ferries. |
| He said: "Most people can get around the country. It is the case that people should take more time and plan their journey, which should mean that everyone can get their safely." | He said: "Most people can get around the country. It is the case that people should take more time and plan their journey, which should mean that everyone can get their safely." |
| By early afternoon, the strongest wind gusts had been recorded in Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire (77 mph), South Uist (75 mph), Tiree (74 mph), Peterhead (73 mph) and Stornoway (73 mph). | By early afternoon, the strongest wind gusts had been recorded in Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire (77 mph), South Uist (75 mph), Tiree (74 mph), Peterhead (73 mph) and Stornoway (73 mph). |
| BBC weather presenter Gillian Smart said: "An exceptionally deep area of low pressure to the northwest of us will bring stormy conditions right across the country this Christmas Eve. Winds will continue to strengthen throughout the afternoon, with gusts of 60 mph to 70 mph across many parts. | BBC weather presenter Gillian Smart said: "An exceptionally deep area of low pressure to the northwest of us will bring stormy conditions right across the country this Christmas Eve. Winds will continue to strengthen throughout the afternoon, with gusts of 60 mph to 70 mph across many parts. |
| "Over the isles and around exposed coasts, we could see storm force gusts of 80 mph or even 90 mph, so further disruption to travel is likely, and there's a risk of power outages. | "Over the isles and around exposed coasts, we could see storm force gusts of 80 mph or even 90 mph, so further disruption to travel is likely, and there's a risk of power outages. |
| "There'll be frequent wintry showers in the mix too, with snow settling above about 200 metres. The gale force winds will lead to drifting and blizzards - extremely poor conditions likely on higher level roads like the A82 and the A9." | "There'll be frequent wintry showers in the mix too, with snow settling above about 200 metres. The gale force winds will lead to drifting and blizzards - extremely poor conditions likely on higher level roads like the A82 and the A9." |
| Travel disruption | Travel disruption |
| The public has been told to prepare for "significant" travel disruption and the Met Office said power cuts were also possible. | The public has been told to prepare for "significant" travel disruption and the Met Office said power cuts were also possible. |
| Power company Scottish Hydro said up to 350 homes were without power around Uig on the west coast of Lewis. | Power company Scottish Hydro said up to 350 homes were without power around Uig on the west coast of Lewis. |
| Strong winds are affecting all the main bridges, with the Skye, Forth, Friarton, Kessock and Dornoch Bridges closed to high-sided vehicles. | Strong winds are affecting all the main bridges, with the Skye, Forth, Friarton, Kessock and Dornoch Bridges closed to high-sided vehicles. |
| The Tay Bridge is open only to cars. The Erskine Bridge is fully open, but extra care is needed. | The Tay Bridge is open only to cars. The Erskine Bridge is fully open, but extra care is needed. |
| Rail disruption | Rail disruption |
| Rail travel in Scotland is expected to become progressively more difficult in the course of the day. | Rail travel in Scotland is expected to become progressively more difficult in the course of the day. |
| Network Rail spokesman Nick King told BBC Radio Scotland: "This morning in Scotland we're looking at a good service but as the afternoon goes on and the weather sweeps in, we may see some disruption. | Network Rail spokesman Nick King told BBC Radio Scotland: "This morning in Scotland we're looking at a good service but as the afternoon goes on and the weather sweeps in, we may see some disruption. |
| "Between Kilwinning and Ardrossan strong winds and water coming off the coast and on to overhead power lines mean that we've had to turn the power off and put on a replacement bus service, so travel is still possible but by bus rather than train. | "Between Kilwinning and Ardrossan strong winds and water coming off the coast and on to overhead power lines mean that we've had to turn the power off and put on a replacement bus service, so travel is still possible but by bus rather than train. |
| "On cross-border routes, our colleagues down south are still dealing with the after-effects of yesterday's storm so there are trains running from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London and other locations but they may be subject to delay, and on the west coast Virgin are running a reduced timetable so that what does run gets to its final destination. | "On cross-border routes, our colleagues down south are still dealing with the after-effects of yesterday's storm so there are trains running from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London and other locations but they may be subject to delay, and on the west coast Virgin are running a reduced timetable so that what does run gets to its final destination. |
| "For people travelling later, the advice is the same as yesterday: we are expecting another band of extremely bad weather to move in this afternoon, so people should check before they travel." | "For people travelling later, the advice is the same as yesterday: we are expecting another band of extremely bad weather to move in this afternoon, so people should check before they travel." |
| In the Borders, Sepa said Wester Dawyck, Easter Happrew, and Altarstone on the River Tweed may be affected by flooding. Scottish Borders Council has set up sandbag stores near this warning area in Broughton Primary School and Peebles Fire Station. | In the Borders, Sepa said Wester Dawyck, Easter Happrew, and Altarstone on the River Tweed may be affected by flooding. Scottish Borders Council has set up sandbag stores near this warning area in Broughton Primary School and Peebles Fire Station. |
| Sepa warned flooding on the Ettrick Water in the Ettrick Valley could hit properties in Ettrick and Angecroft as well as affecting Deephope and Hopehouse Caravan Parks. | Sepa warned flooding on the Ettrick Water in the Ettrick Valley could hit properties in Ettrick and Angecroft as well as affecting Deephope and Hopehouse Caravan Parks. |
| The River Teviot is also causing concern with a "potential risk of flooding to property on Teviot Road, Teviot Crescent, and Laidlaw Terrace," as well as the Riverside Caravan Park and properties in Denholm. | The River Teviot is also causing concern with a "potential risk of flooding to property on Teviot Road, Teviot Crescent, and Laidlaw Terrace," as well as the Riverside Caravan Park and properties in Denholm. |
| In Perthshire, around a dozen flood warnings have been issued, mainly for low-lying farmland, although there is a risk of flood water encroaching on to Aberfeldy caravan site and golf course. | In Perthshire, around a dozen flood warnings have been issued, mainly for low-lying farmland, although there is a risk of flood water encroaching on to Aberfeldy caravan site and golf course. |
| There are also warnings for Helensburgh, Tarbert, Largs, Dumbarton and Renfrew. | There are also warnings for Helensburgh, Tarbert, Largs, Dumbarton and Renfrew. |