Scotland is preparing for a period of severe weather as Storm Bram moves in from the Atlantic, bringing high winds and heavy rain that are expected to disrupt travel across much of the country.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for wind covering parts of the North West coast and the Western Isles from 4pm on Tuesday 9 December until midnight, with yellow wind warnings in place for the whole of Scotland from noon on Tuesday through to Wednesday.
A yellow warning for rain has also been issued for parts of Central Scotland between 6am and noon tomorrow, raising concerns about localised flooding and difficult driving conditions.
Transport officials say the combination of gusting winds, saturated ground and heavy showers is likely to cause delays across the network, with the potential for restrictions on bridges, fallen trees, power cuts and cancellations to road, rail, ferry and air services.
The Transport Scotland Resilience Room and the Multi Agency Response Team will be activated to monitor conditions as they develop, and the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room will also be engaged as part of the wider response.
Traffic Scotland will provide updates through its website, social media channels and radio broadcasts from the National Traffic Control Centre in South Queensferry.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:
“Storm Bram will be the second named storm of the season, bringing challenging weather conditions and a period of disruption to the transport network.
“The Met Office warnings show high winds will impact the whole country, particularly in parts of the North West and Western Isles covered by the amber warning, so it’s vital people plan ahead if they have to travel.
“The Traffic Scotland website offers the latest information on the trunk road network and also has details of ‘wind based’ closures for the bridges.
“The Traffic Scotland X page is also updated regularly.
“’d urge motorists to check their routes before setting off as the conditions will bring challenges for drivers.
“The high winds are likely to impact other modes of transport, so if you are planning to travel by train, ferry or air, please check with your operator to see if your service has been affected.”
Police Scotland echoed the warning and urged drivers to take extra care as conditions deteriorate.
Chief Superintendent Scott McCarren said:
“I would encourage people to drive to the conditions and plan ahead.
“Drivers of vehicles vulnerable to being blown over should plan their route to avoid exposed areas or consider cancelling your journey until conditions improve.
“In wet weather, stopping distances will be at least double those required for stopping on dry roads.”
Residents in coastal and island communities are being asked to secure loose outdoor items and to keep a close eye on weather updates, with the strongest gusts expected to arrive late Tuesday afternoon and continue into the night.
As Storm Bram approaches, the emphasis from emergency services is on preparation, patience and taking no unnecessary risks when travelling.
