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‘Weather bomb’ hits the UK bringing travel chaos and disruption
‘Weather bomb’ hits UK bringing travel chaos and disruption
(about 2 hours later)
More than 17,000 people in the Western Isles have been left without power as a “weather bomb” batters the country.
Scotland is braced for its worst weather of the year, with more than 17,000 people in the Western Isles left without power, as winds of up to 80mph and huge coastal waves batter the country.
The whole of the Western Isles was left without power after the outage just before 7am on Wednesday.
The “weather bomb”, a meteorological process of rapid cyclogenesis caused by a deep low pressure system, moving between Iceland and Scotland, sent waves of up to 40ft along the west coast.
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution said its engineers were working to restore supplies.
The Shetland coastguard launched a rescue operation to help a Spanish fishing vessel in difficulties off Orkney, while 20 vehicles were trapped in icy conditions in Aberdeenshire.
Elsewhere a rescue operation has been launched to help a Spanish fishing vessel in difficulties off Orkney.
Many trains and ferry services were cancelled overnight in anticipation of the extreme conditions, and the Forth and Skye road bridges were closed to vehicles on Wednesday morning, with gusts of up to 70mph recorded on the Tay bridge.
Shetland coastguard said its rescue helicopter and Stromness lifeboat had been sent to the scene.
In the Western Isles, the worst-hit area of the country, all schools and nurseries were closed, with police advising the public not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
People around the UK are facing disruption with 80mph winds and huge coastal waves predicted for some areas on Wednesday.
Fifteen flood warnings and 12 flood alerts have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Met Office upgraded its warning to amber – or “be prepared” – status for the west coast of Scotland, the Highlands and Islands, Orkney, Shetland and Northern Ireland.
In Scotland several ferry and train services have been cancelled while some bridges have been closed due to high winds.
High winds were also expected to hit northern parts of England and Wales, with yellow “be aware” warnings in place. Members of the public have taken to social media to warn fellow travellers of disruption, using the hashtag #weatherbomb.
Fifteen flood warnings and 12 flood alerts have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Steve Willington, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Very strong winds are likely to affect northern and central parts of the UK from early Wednesday and last through until early Thursday as a very deep low-pressure system moves slowly eastwards between Scotland and Iceland.
The process behind the storm – rapid cyclogenesis, known colloquially as a weather bomb – is a deep low pressure system moving between Scotland and Iceland.
“A period of severe gales is likely over northern and central Britain, as well as the potential for storm-force winds over north-western coastal areas of Scotland.”
For the west coast of Scotland, the Highlands and Islands, Orkney, Shetland and Northern Ireland, the Met Office has upgraded its warning to amber “be prepared” status.
Scotland’s deputy first minister, John Swinney, who met with the Scottish government’s resilience committee on Tuesday night to plan for the bad weather, said: “It’s 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.”
People have been warned to expect dangerous conditions, especially along causeways and coastal roads exposed to the west.
Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme, he added: “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.”
High winds are also expected to hit northern parts of England and Wales, with yellow “be aware” warnings in place.
Steve Willington, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Very strong winds are likely to affect northern and central parts of the UK from early Wednesday and last through until early Thursday as a very deep low pressure system moves slowly eastwards between Scotland and Iceland.
“A period of severe gales is likely over northern and central Britain, as well as the potential for storm force winds over north-western coastal areas of Scotland.”
Traffic Scotland told BBC Scotland that gusts of 70mph have been recorded on the Forth and Tay road bridges while the Met Office recorded a 59mph gust in Lerwick, Shetland and a 55mph gust in Glasgow.
Police warned that travel conditions in the worst-hit areas of Scotland could be hazardous, with disruption also expected on ferries, rail services, roads and bridges.
Many ferry services run by Caledonian MacBrayne, which operates in the west of Scotland, have been cancelled or disrupted, while the Argyll Ferries service between Gourock and Dunoon has been suspended.
There were also disruptions and cancellations on NorthLink Ferries services between Orkney, Shetland and the mainland, while P&O ferries said its Larne and Cairnryan sailings were operating with delays of up to at least two hours, with further disruption expected throughout the day.
Several train services will be cancelled as a safety precaution, Network Rail and train operator ScotRail announced.
On the roads the Skye bridge and Forth Road bridge were closed to high-sided vehicles while the Tay bridge was only open to cars.
Western Isles council said all its schools and nurseries would be closed as police have advised the public not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary.
All depots, libraries, museums and sports facilities in the Western Isles will also be shut.
Scotland’s deputy first minister, John Swinney, has 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.”
Councils south of the border insisted they are prepared for the plunge in temperatures, with gritters “out in force” and depots filled with about 1.3m tonnes of salt.
The Met Office warnings for wind run through Wednesday into tomorrow morning, extending by that stage to cover the whole of the UK.
