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| Power restored as 'weather bomb' storm subsides | Power restored as 'weather bomb' storm subsides |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Power has been restored to the vast majority of the 31,000 homes that had their supply cut as Scotland was hit by a storm dubbed the "weather bomb". | Power has been restored to the vast majority of the 31,000 homes that had their supply cut as Scotland was hit by a storm dubbed the "weather bomb". |
| Energy firm SSE said its engineers had reconnected 28,000 homes by 16:30, with a further 2,800 still without power. | Energy firm SSE said its engineers had reconnected 28,000 homes by 16:30, with a further 2,800 still without power. |
| Much of western and northern Scotland has been battered by wind and rain. | Much of western and northern Scotland has been battered by wind and rain. |
| A wind speed of 144mph was recorded on the remote St Kilda islands, with gusts in excess of 80mph elsewhere. | A wind speed of 144mph was recorded on the remote St Kilda islands, with gusts in excess of 80mph elsewhere. |
| Met Office amber "be prepared" warnings for the west coast and the Highlands and Islands were downgraded to yellow at 18:00. | Met Office amber "be prepared" warnings for the west coast and the Highlands and Islands were downgraded to yellow at 18:00. |
| The lesser "be aware" alerts still cover the rest of the country, with forecasters predicting conditions will improve on Wednesday evening and into Thursday. | The lesser "be aware" alerts still cover the rest of the country, with forecasters predicting conditions will improve on Wednesday evening and into Thursday. |
| Ferry operator CalMac said many of its services were likely to still be disrupted on Thursday. | |
| The Western Isles, Shetland, Orkney and parts of Argyll and Lochaber were among the worst areas affected, as heavy rain, strong winds and lighting strikes left homes without power. | The Western Isles, Shetland, Orkney and parts of Argyll and Lochaber were among the worst areas affected, as heavy rain, strong winds and lighting strikes left homes without power. |
| But disruption in much of the rest of the country has not been as bad as feared. | But disruption in much of the rest of the country has not been as bad as feared. |
| Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency | Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency |
| Enter your postcode to see alerts near you | Enter your postcode to see alerts near you |
| SSE said about 900 customers are still without power in the Western Isles - which was left completely without electricity for a time - along with a further 270 in Shetland, 100 in Orkney, 500 in the Fort William area, 570 in Dunoon and 245 in the Oban area. | SSE said about 900 customers are still without power in the Western Isles - which was left completely without electricity for a time - along with a further 270 in Shetland, 100 in Orkney, 500 in the Fort William area, 570 in Dunoon and 245 in the Oban area. |
| The weather was also affecting a number of other areas, causing minor damage to the electricity network. | The weather was also affecting a number of other areas, causing minor damage to the electricity network. |
| SSE said its 500 engineers and support staff would continue working late into the night to ensure power was restored to all of the remaining households. | SSE said its 500 engineers and support staff would continue working late into the night to ensure power was restored to all of the remaining households. |
| However, it said repairs were taking longer due to the nature and complexity of the damage to the network in some places, with engineers having to contend with rain, snow, and strong winds as well as damage caused by lightning strikes. | However, it said repairs were taking longer due to the nature and complexity of the damage to the network in some places, with engineers having to contend with rain, snow, and strong winds as well as damage caused by lightning strikes. |
| There were also early-morning blackouts in Renfrew, Penicuik and West Linton but power was restored by 11:30. | There were also early-morning blackouts in Renfrew, Penicuik and West Linton but power was restored by 11:30. |
| The rapid cyclogenesis - known colloquially as a "weather bomb" - is a deep, low-pressure system which was moving slowly eastwards between Scotland and Iceland. | The rapid cyclogenesis - known colloquially as a "weather bomb" - is a deep, low-pressure system which was moving slowly eastwards between Scotland and Iceland. |
| Waves heights of up to 40ft were expected to batter the west coast until 15:00. | Waves heights of up to 40ft were expected to batter the west coast until 15:00. |
| Fifteen flood warnings and 12 flood alerts were also issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), but there have been no reports of major coastal flooding. | Fifteen flood warnings and 12 flood alerts were also issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), but there have been no reports of major coastal flooding. |
| The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) said the wind speed at the top of the hill on Hirta, the largest of St Kilda's islands, reached 144mph - one of the highest ever recorded there. | The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) said the wind speed at the top of the hill on Hirta, the largest of St Kilda's islands, reached 144mph - one of the highest ever recorded there. |
| St Kilda, which is in the care of the NTS, experiences gales on 75 days of the year, but conditions were said to be even tougher than normal. | St Kilda, which is in the care of the NTS, experiences gales on 75 days of the year, but conditions were said to be even tougher than normal. |
| Earlier, the Stromness lifeboat was called out after a Spanish fishing boat radioed in a Mayday after being hit by a large wave off the west coast of Orkney. | Earlier, the Stromness lifeboat was called out after a Spanish fishing boat radioed in a Mayday after being hit by a large wave off the west coast of Orkney. |
| It is understood the wheelhouse windows of the O Genita trawler were smashed in the incident, with waves bigger than the height of the boat. | It is understood the wheelhouse windows of the O Genita trawler were smashed in the incident, with waves bigger than the height of the boat. |
| By 11:40, the trawler was escorted into Pierowall Bay on Westray, by the lifeboat. | By 11:40, the trawler was escorted into Pierowall Bay on Westray, by the lifeboat. |
| The Shetland coastguard helicopter, which had been at the scene of the Mayday call, was forced to land on Westray because of lightning in the area. | The Shetland coastguard helicopter, which had been at the scene of the Mayday call, was forced to land on Westray because of lightning in the area. |
| Network Rail said the vast majority of the train network was running but they had withdrawn services in the more exposed areas such as coastal routes and the far north line up towards Wick and Thurso. | Network Rail said the vast majority of the train network was running but they had withdrawn services in the more exposed areas such as coastal routes and the far north line up towards Wick and Thurso. |
| A number of rail services were also withdrawn, with no trains running on the following lines: | A number of rail services were also withdrawn, with no trains running on the following lines: |
| About 20 vehicles were stuck in icy conditions at Cairn O' Mount on the B974 Banchory to Fettercairn road in Aberdeenshire for 90 minutes before being moved on at 09:30. | About 20 vehicles were stuck in icy conditions at Cairn O' Mount on the B974 Banchory to Fettercairn road in Aberdeenshire for 90 minutes before being moved on at 09:30. |
| The Vatersay and Eriskay causeways on the Western Isles were closed after being overtopped by waves. | The Vatersay and Eriskay causeways on the Western Isles were closed after being overtopped by waves. |
| Insp Bryan McGeogh from Police Scotland said: "I would advise people to travel with caution across the country. | Insp Bryan McGeogh from Police Scotland said: "I would advise people to travel with caution across the country. |
| "Very high winds are expected which could impact on the road network, rail travel, ferries and bridges and driving in these conditions could be particularly hazardous." | "Very high winds are expected which could impact on the road network, rail travel, ferries and bridges and driving in these conditions could be particularly hazardous." |
| Richard Brown, head of hydrology at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), told Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that their systems were indicating flooding may not be as severe as predicted. | Richard Brown, head of hydrology at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), told Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that their systems were indicating flooding may not be as severe as predicted. |
| "I should say we have no major concerns over the larger rivers today, most of the rain is locked up as snow in the higher ground so the rivers shouldn't be a problem." he said. | "I should say we have no major concerns over the larger rivers today, most of the rain is locked up as snow in the higher ground so the rivers shouldn't be a problem." he said. |
| "There will, of course, be localised flooding but our main focus is on coastal flooding." | "There will, of course, be localised flooding but our main focus is on coastal flooding." |
| Check out the latest travel news for Scotland | Check out the latest travel news for Scotland |
| For the latest on the roads visit the BBC's travel news page and keep up to date with incidents and roadworks on the motorways here. | For the latest on the roads visit the BBC's travel news page and keep up to date with incidents and roadworks on the motorways here. |
| Around the country you can check for updates from: | Around the country you can check for updates from: |
| Alternatively, for regular travel bulletins listen live to BBC Radio Scotland and follow @BBCTravelScot. | Alternatively, for regular travel bulletins listen live to BBC Radio Scotland and follow @BBCTravelScot. |
| In times of severe disruption you can also follow the BBC Scotland severe weather Twitter list of key sources. | In times of severe disruption you can also follow the BBC Scotland severe weather Twitter list of key sources. |
| Below are a number of other traffic information sources. | Below are a number of other traffic information sources. |
| Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney urged people across the country to be on the lookout for travel and safety advice. | Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney urged people across the country to be on the lookout for travel and safety advice. |
| He said: "I am confident we are well-placed to cope." | He said: "I am confident we are well-placed to cope." |
| Mr Swinney said the Scottish government's Resilience Committee would meet again later to discuss the situation. | Mr Swinney said the Scottish government's Resilience Committee would meet again later to discuss the situation. |
| He told BBC Radio Scotland: "It is important to keep this in context. It's not a surprise that Scotland faces severe winter weather, we face it to a greater or lesser extent every year. This morning we're wrestling with a number of different issues. | He told BBC Radio Scotland: "It is important to keep this in context. It's not a surprise that Scotland faces severe winter weather, we face it to a greater or lesser extent every year. This morning we're wrestling with a number of different issues. |
| "We're wrestling with very high wind speeds, which are not that uncommon in the Western Isles for example, but they are still severe and need to be prepared for. | "We're wrestling with very high wind speeds, which are not that uncommon in the Western Isles for example, but they are still severe and need to be prepared for. |
| "We're wrestling with the possibility of coastal flooding because of the sea surges and strength of waves that are likely to come, and in other parts of the country we're wrestling with the issues of snow on the A9 and M74 and we also will, I suspect, be dealing with a bit of flooding on some of the river systems in Scotland but mainly on agricultural land." | "We're wrestling with the possibility of coastal flooding because of the sea surges and strength of waves that are likely to come, and in other parts of the country we're wrestling with the issues of snow on the A9 and M74 and we also will, I suspect, be dealing with a bit of flooding on some of the river systems in Scotland but mainly on agricultural land." |
| Mr Swinney added: "I think it's important to remember that this is weather which is characteristic of winter weather in Scotland and what's important is that we take the necessary steps to prepare for it." | Mr Swinney added: "I think it's important to remember that this is weather which is characteristic of winter weather in Scotland and what's important is that we take the necessary steps to prepare for it." |
| The RNLI said some of those involved in maritime activities have dubbed Wednesday "Black Wednesday" because of the severity of the conditions expected. | The RNLI said some of those involved in maritime activities have dubbed Wednesday "Black Wednesday" because of the severity of the conditions expected. |
| South Devon-based website Magicseaweed.com produces charts and swell models designed to help surfers pinpoint the best sites to enjoy their sport. | South Devon-based website Magicseaweed.com produces charts and swell models designed to help surfers pinpoint the best sites to enjoy their sport. |
| Its swell chart for Wednesday shows a large black area indicating swells of up to 40ft (12m). | Its swell chart for Wednesday shows a large black area indicating swells of up to 40ft (12m). |
| Are you affected by the severe weather in Scotland? You can send us your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk and your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you affected by the severe weather in Scotland? You can send us your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk and your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Have your say | Have your say |
| Alternatively, you can text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Alternatively, you can text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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