A yellow weather warning associated with a strong windstorm from Denmark has been issued by the Met Office for the majority of Scotland - including Edinburgh.
Storm Otto is set to hit Denmark tomorrow (February 17) and bring hurricane-force winds, as well as risk of flooding - and the fall out will blow over to the UK, and the central belt of Scotland.
According to the Met Office, there will be: "a spell of very strong winds across Scotland associated with Storm Otto may bring some disruption during Friday."
This warning will be in place from 3am on Friday morning, until 3pm on Friday afternoon. The likelihood and peak gust speeds for Scotland were increased this morning (February 16), with forecasters warning people to be wary of travelling through the weather alert.
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According to the weather warning, people have been told to expect the following:
- Injuries and danger to life from flying debris are possible
- Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, could happen
- Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible
- Some roads and bridges may close
- Power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
- Injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties
Wind speeds will reach up to 80mph in Scotland with Edinburgh seeing highs of 55mph winds in the city centre. The gale force gusts show no sign of calming down until 5pm, where they will reach 21mph.
Read on below to find out more about the weekend's forecast for Edinburgh, including the weather warning.
Edinburgh's five-day forecast
Today's forecast
A mostly dull morning with fog on higher ground in the morning, along with some drizzle. Cloud lifting in the afternoon, brightening up a little. Rain arriving in the southwest towards evening. Maximum temperature 9 °C.
Tonight's forecast
Cloudy with rain extending east during the evening, this mostly light across the Lothians an deastern Borders but some heavier bursts in west. Clearer by morning but gales developing. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
Friday's forecast
Bright with a few showers, with strong to gale force winds, severe for a time, Winds easing later. Rain returning during the evening. Maximum temperature 12 °C.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday
Overnight rain and hill snow clearing on Saturday to sunshine. Sunday mainly bright and dry then cloudier with strengthening winds and rain later. Sunny spells Monday then rain later.
The Met Office have recognised the Storm on their website this morning, writing: "A low-pressure system which will bring high winds and rain to parts of the UK has been named Storm Otto by the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI).
"Storm Otto will move east across the far north of the UK from the early hours of Friday morning, likely bringing gusts in excess of 75mph to some northern areas."
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Andy Page said: “Storm Otto will bring high winds and rain to the UK, with some northern parts of Scotland and the northeast of England likely to get the strongest gusts of wind, possibly in excess of 75mph. Warnings have been issued and could be updated as Storm Otto develops.
“There’s a chance of travel disruption and high-sided vehicles could be particularly prone to disrupted plans in this set-up. There’s associated rain with Storm Otto, with 40-50 mm of rain likely to fall over parts of western Scotland.”
For more information on the weather alert and how to stay safe during strong winds, visit the Met Office website for further details.
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