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| ‘Weather bomb’ brings travel chaos and disruption to UK | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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 “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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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.” | “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.” |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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.” | 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.” |