A number of schools have been closed and travel links cancelled as Storm Otto wreaks havoc across Scotland.
The extreme weather is bringing gusts of up to 80mph across the country in the first storm to be named this winter. The storm has been labelled Otto by the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) and is expected to bring further disruption to travellers across northern areas of the UK.
The storm moved east across the far north of Scotland in the early hours of Friday morning, bringing gusts in excess of 75mph - which could create a ‘danger to life’ from flying debris. The Met Office warned the high winds would mean travel disruption and possible damage to buildings in places and warned the drivers of high-sided vehicles to be careful.
It said there is also a danger of large waves on the North Sea coast “as well as a chance of some damage to buildings and infrastructure”. As a result a number of schools have been closed across the country.
Highland Council has announced 11 schools would be closed across the area including two high schools, five primary schools and four nurseries. Some of the schools that are closed are due to them having no heating, water or power.
Closed schools are Crossroads Primary (bad weather), Culbokie Primary (no water/heating/power), Culbokie Primary Nursery (no water/heating/power), Golspie High School (bad weather), Miller Academy Primary (bad weather), Miller Academy Primary Nursery (bad weather), Noss Primary (bad weather), Noss Primary Nursery (bad weather), Resolis Primary (no water/heating/power), Resolis Primary Nursery (no water/heating/power), Wick High School (bad weather).
Aberdeenshire Council has also announced a number of their schools would be closed as well. The schools that will be closed are Aboyne Academy, Aberchirder Primary School, Anna Ritchie School, Auchterless School, Barthol Chapel School, Bracoden School, Craigievar School, Crudie School, Daviot School, Drumblade School, Ellon Academy, Ellon Primary School, Fordyce School, Fraserburgh Academy, Fyvie School, Gordon Primary School, The Gordon School, Hatten School, Cruden, Kennethmont School, Kemnay Academy, King Edward School, Lochpots School, Macduff Primary School, Mintlaw Academy, Monquhitter School, Old Rayne School, Ordiquhill School, Raye North School, Rhynie School, Rothienorman School, St Andrews School, Slains School, Tipperty School, Tarves School, Tullynessle School, Turriff Academy, Turriff Primary School, Whitehills School.
Meanwhile, some schools have had their transport diverted or changed. These schools are Alford Academy, Banff Academy and Lumsden School - which is due to open at 10am.
SSE have said they are experiencing power cuts over their service but have said their teams are working to restore power services. ScotRail services have been hit by speed reductions and an emergency timetable has been implemented.
Aberdeen to Inverness, Inverness to Wick and Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh routes have been suspended. Severe gales have also caused a number of ferry cancellations.
All Corran Ferry services are cancelled this morning due to the weather conditions. Orkney Ferry and CalMac services are also disrupted.
Cancelled Orkney Ferries include Shapinsay Service, Rousay Egilsay Wyre, Eday Sanday Stronsay, Hoy Head Service, Papa Westray Cargo Service, Westray Service and Graemsay Service. Cancelled CalMac ferries include Ardrossan – Brodick, Colintraive – Rhubodach, Ullapool – Stornoway, Oban – Lismore and Oban – Craignure.
Some bridges in the Highlands have also been closed to vehicles, these include A9 Dornoch- CLOSED to all vehicles, A9 Kessock- High Winds, A87 Skye- High Winds, A92 Tay- CLOSED to all vehicles, A898 Erskine- CLOSED to High Siders, A9000 Forth-CLOSED to all vehicles, M90 Friarton- High Winds.
Yellow weather warnings for wind were issued for the whole of Scotland and a stretch of north and north-east England running from Sheffield to the Scottish border.
The detailed warning for Scotland explains that there could be “injuries and danger to life from flying debris” and “some damage to building, such as tiles blown from roofs”. The warning for Scotland runs from 3am to 3pm Friday.
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 north-east 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 40-50mm of rain likely to fall over parts of western Scotland.”
TransPennine Express has warned customers to check their route before they travel, adding that trains between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh will move at reduced speeds in response to the weather.
ScotRail said on Twitter: “With very windy weather on the way, if you live by the railway please secure your garden furniture and items such as trampolines, to avoid them blowing onto tracks and disrupting services.”
Denmark is expected to bear the brunt of the storm on Friday afternoon, leading the Danes to name the system, which has now been adopted by the Met Office in line with the international storm-naming arrangements. Otto is the first named storm to directly impact the UK this storm-naming season, which began in September.
The first storm named by the Met Office, or the Irish and Dutch weather services this season will still be Storm Antoni, in accordance with the 2022/23 storm name list.
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