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| 'Weather bomb' storm brings disruption to northern UK | 'Weather bomb' storm brings disruption to northern UK |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of Scottish homes are without power as a "weather bomb" storm hits western coastal areas. | Thousands of Scottish homes are without power as a "weather bomb" storm hits western coastal areas. |
| Electricity has been cut across the Western Isles, affecting 17,000 homes, and there is other disruption including train and ferry cancellations. | Electricity has been cut across the Western Isles, affecting 17,000 homes, and there is other disruption including train and ferry cancellations. |
| The Met Office has warned parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland to "be prepared" as the rapidly developing storm threatens gusts of up to 80mph. | The Met Office has warned parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland to "be prepared" as the rapidly developing storm threatens gusts of up to 80mph. |
| Wind speeds are expected to peak on Wednesday afternoon and early evening. | |
| BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood said it would be a "wild" day from north Wales northwards, while it would be "blustery" further south. | |
| Explosive cyclogenesis - known colloquially as a "weather bomb" - is when a storm intensifies as the pressure at its centre drops rapidly (by more than 24 millibars in 24 hours). | |
| 'Pretty bad' | |
| Speaking from Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Donald MacLeod, coxswain of the island's lifeboat, said there was rain, hail and "plenty of wind". | Speaking from Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Donald MacLeod, coxswain of the island's lifeboat, said there was rain, hail and "plenty of wind". |
| He said the storm had "grown through the night", adding: "The swell conditions are pretty bad to the west - it's showing about 14m (45ft)." | He said the storm had "grown through the night", adding: "The swell conditions are pretty bad to the west - it's showing about 14m (45ft)." |
| Mr Macleod said this was "a lot deeper than we normally see" and was "definitely something to be wary of". | Mr Macleod said this was "a lot deeper than we normally see" and was "definitely something to be wary of". |
| Power supplier SSE said the problem affecting the Western Isles was caused by lightning, and homes should be reconnected during the morning. | Power supplier SSE said the problem affecting the Western Isles was caused by lightning, and homes should be reconnected during the morning. |
| Western Isles Council said all schools would be closed, along with many other facilities. Many schools in the Highlands are also closed. | |
| In Aberdeenshire, about 20 vehicles got stuck in icy conditions on the B974 Banchory to Fettercairn road. A gritter was sent and the vehicles were later freed. | |
| Ahead of the forecast storms, ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne warned of severe disruption to its services. | Ahead of the forecast storms, ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne warned of severe disruption to its services. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| The Met Office's amber "be prepared" warning is in effect for the Northern Isles, Western Isles - where all schools and nurseries will be closed - the north and west Highlands and Argyll, as well as the far north of Northern Ireland. | The Met Office's amber "be prepared" warning is in effect for the Northern Isles, Western Isles - where all schools and nurseries will be closed - the north and west Highlands and Argyll, as well as the far north of Northern Ireland. |
| There is also a less-severe yellow warning covering the rest of Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as north Wales and northern England. | There is also a less-severe yellow warning covering the rest of Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as north Wales and northern England. |
| Numerous flood warnings and alerts have also been issued, mostly in Scotland. | Numerous flood warnings and alerts have also been issued, mostly in Scotland. |
| Gusts of more than 60mph (95km/h) have been recorded in Northern Ireland, where the speed limit on the Foyle Bridge in Derry has been reduced to 30mph. | Gusts of more than 60mph (95km/h) have been recorded in Northern Ireland, where the speed limit on the Foyle Bridge in Derry has been reduced to 30mph. |
| A second storm front is expected to track across the country overnight on Thursday, the Met Office said. | A second storm front is expected to track across the country overnight on Thursday, the Met Office said. |
| It said there could be gales and a band of heavy rain across much of England and Wales during the first half of Friday, which could then push eastwards before easing in the early afternoon. | It said there could be gales and a band of heavy rain across much of England and Wales during the first half of Friday, which could then push eastwards before easing in the early afternoon. |
| Weather information | Weather information |
| From the BBC: | From the BBC: |
| Elsewhere: | Elsewhere: |
| Network Rail said some services in Scotland would be cancelled due to the weather. | Network Rail said some services in Scotland would be cancelled due to the weather. |
| These are the services from Inverness to Wick/Kyle of Lochalsh, Glasgow Queen Street to Oban/Fort William/Mallaig, Dumbarton Central to Helensburgh Central, Glasgow Central to Largs/Ardrossan Harbour and Glasgow Central/Kilmarnock to Ayr/Stranraer. | These are the services from Inverness to Wick/Kyle of Lochalsh, Glasgow Queen Street to Oban/Fort William/Mallaig, Dumbarton Central to Helensburgh Central, Glasgow Central to Largs/Ardrossan Harbour and Glasgow Central/Kilmarnock to Ayr/Stranraer. |
| The company said replacement bus services would be considered, but these were dependent on road conditions. | The company said replacement bus services would be considered, but these were dependent on road conditions. |
| ScotRail said services had started "quite well" on Wednesday morning. | ScotRail said services had started "quite well" on Wednesday morning. |
| But operations and safety director Jacqueline Dey said: "We have had a number of lightning strikes, which has caused some disruption on the Edinburgh-Glasgow Central via Shotts line and the Perth area." | But operations and safety director Jacqueline Dey said: "We have had a number of lightning strikes, which has caused some disruption on the Edinburgh-Glasgow Central via Shotts line and the Perth area." |
| A CalMac ferry spokesman said severe weather along the west coast on Tuesday had caused "extensive disruption" to its services, with further cancellations expected. | A CalMac ferry spokesman said severe weather along the west coast on Tuesday had caused "extensive disruption" to its services, with further cancellations expected. |
| Richard Brown, of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said Caithness, Sutherland, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland were at the greatest risk of coastal flooding as the storm front hit. | Richard Brown, of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said Caithness, Sutherland, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland were at the greatest risk of coastal flooding as the storm front hit. |
| Argyll and Bute, the Firth of Clyde, Clyde estuary and Dumfries and Galloway could also be affected, he said. | Argyll and Bute, the Firth of Clyde, Clyde estuary and Dumfries and Galloway could also be affected, he said. |
| Are you affected by the severe weather in the UK? 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 the UK? You can send us your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk and your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
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