Scotland weather: Storms and 100mph winds set to hit

Wind and rain is set to bring misery for travellers. Picture: Ian Georgeson

While the highest winds will hit the Western Isles, Edinburgh and the south-east are also at risk of stormy weather with commuters facing challenging conditions during Monday’s morning and afternoon rush-hours,

Gales and floods are also expected to disrupt rail and ferry services.

On Sunday, torrential rain and high winds brought chaos with flooding hitting many areas rendering some roads impassible. Three flood warnings were issued for Tayside.

A number of people had to be helped by Scottish Fire and Rescue in East Ayrshire after water inundated their homes.

Ferry operator Cal Mac cancelled sailings to Barra, Eriskay, South Uist, Tarbert, Portavadie, Iona, Lewis, Stornoway and Armadale. Further disruption is expected on Monday.

The Forth Road Bridge was closed to double decker buses and pedestrians due to high winds and all lanes on the Kessock Bridge in Inverness and the Tay Bridge in Dundee were “restricted” for a while during the afternoon.

Traffic Scotland used their Twitter account to warn drivers of exceptional winds affecting the Clackmannanshire Bridge.

There were lengthy hold-ups on the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass and “severe” flooding also affected the A82 between Tarbet and Ardlui and traffic was turning around rather than face deep flood water on Thornliebank Road on Glasgow’s south side. All lanes of the A725 were badly affected by the downpours.

Further south, two of the three lanes of the A74 (M) at Johnstonebridge north of Dumfries were closed.

The Met Office said Dumfries and Galloway and high parts of the highlands were worst-affected by yesterday’s conditions, with around one inch of rain (25mm).

Robert Steel, meteorologist at the Met Office in Aberdeen said: “This is average for autumn in Scotland. It has been nothing exceptional, just a deep low to the north of Scotland producing a front crossing the country.”