AN UPDATED VERSION OF THIS PIECE WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND HERE. A NUMBER of flood warnings are in place across Scotland as the country prepares for Storm Ashley.
An amber weather warning for wind already issued for parts of the country including the Western Isles and a section of the Highlands.
A separate yellow warning for wind covering the entire country has also been issued.
The yellow warning will be in place from 3am on Sunday morning until 11.59pm the same night while the more severe amber alert will be in place from 9am until the same time.
A yellow wind warning for northern Scotland will then come into force from midnight on Monday, October 21 until 9am the same day.
Sepa Flood warnings
Gusts of up to 80mph could hit north-west Scotland and “injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties”.
A number of flood alerts and more severe flood warnings have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Flood alerts are in place in the following areas:
- Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City
- Argyll and Bute
- Ayrshire and Arran
- Caithness and Sutherland
- Central
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Dundee and Angus
- Easter Ross and Great Glen
- Fife
- Findhorn, Nairn, Moray and Speyside
- Orkney
- Shetland
- Skye and Lochaber
- Tayside
- West Central Scotland
- Wester Ross
- Western Isles
Meanwhile, more severe flood warnings have been issued in the following places:
- Ayr to Troon
- Upper Solway Firth
- Nith Tidal
- Southerness Point
- Inner Wigtown Bay
- Outer Wigtown Bay
- West Luce Bay North
- Whitesands
- West Luce Bay South
- Lochybridge
- Corpach and Caol
- Fort William
- Churchill Barriers
- South Ford Causeway
- North Ford Causeway
- Berneray Causeway
- Ardmore to Loch Carnan
- West Benbecula
- Baleshare
- Stornoway
Storm Ashley is expected to clear on Monday with Transport Scotland warning of likely disruptions to public transport, including the country’s ferry network.
A statement said: “A windy period is expected across the whole of the UK on Sunday and into Monday, but across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, north-west England and north-west Wales, there is an increased chance of some disruption.
“These strong winds in conjunction with high spring tides may cause some disruption.”
Families travelling during the October school holidays have been advised to check for cancellations.