A yellow weather warning has been issued as ferocious gale force 75mph winds are set to batter parts of the UK.
The Met Office says winds are expected to develop over the Western Isles during the early hours with the Outer Hebrides likely to see the strongest winds.
A Met Office spokeswoman said: "A brief period of strong to gale west to southwesterly winds will transfer quickly eastwards across the rest of the warning area on Thursday morning, gusts typically around 50mph, but perhaps approaching 60mph in a few locations.
