All white for some but storm blackout goes on

MUCH of Scotland woke up to a dusting of snow yesterday as the weather turned more festive following storms which battered the country earlier in the week.

However, thousands of homes remained without power following Thursday’s hurricane-strength winds, leading the Red Cross to send emergency teams to scores of vulnerable people in one of Scotland’s most remote areas.

The Red Cross said around 40 volunteers were using specially equipped Land Rovers to deliver gas heaters, blankets, bottled water, hygiene packs and sanitation kits to residents on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. All 160 emergency response volunteers in northern Scotland are on alert until power is restored.

Ian Rideout, Red Cross operations director for northern Scotland, said: “The recent storms have brought down power lines and disrupted supplies, meaning that many people are without heating, lighting, telephone services and water. With temperatures expected to dip below freezing, it is imperative that we reach as many vulnerable people who need help as possible.”

Around 800 engineers spent much of yesterday attempting to restore supplies to 10,000 homes nationwide. Last night around 7,000 homes in Argyll and Tayside remained without power, although Scottish and Southern Energy said it expected that just a few hundred homes would still be without supplies today.

Yesterday, the Met Office’s Ian Robinson said: “We are going to see outbreaks of rain and hill snow edging into western areas, which will gradually spread eastwards overnight. These will clear away through the early hours and we will start to see frequent snow showers on the hills, rather than anything on lower levels.”

The start of the week is expected to bring sunshine and showers for most of the country, although there is a possibility of snow over higher ground and gales in western coastal areas.

Meanwhile, there were mixed fortunes for ski centres. The Nevis Range, which had hoped to open for the weekend, was battered in the storm, derailing lifts and preventing access. Staff there hope to open next weekend. At Glencoe, winds destroyed huts and knocked out power and phone lines, putting off an early start to snow sports. The centre hopes to open today.

Cairngorm also suffered power shortages but staff hoped to open narrow runs. Glenshee reported packed powder snow with some lifts opening. The Lecht also had more powder snow, with plans to open several lifts.

Bad weather also forced the postponement of a number of football matches, including Dunfermline’s home clash with Kilmarnock at East End Park.