Hurricane winds set to batter Western Isles 29/1/13
Hurricane force winds are set to batter the Western Isles tonight while the Met Office
issues an amber alert warning people to be prepared for damage and adverse weather.
Gusts over 85 mph are expected during the storm which will continue into Wednesday
morning.
Very rough seas and large waves are likely along exposed western coasts with seas
and spray breaking over causeways and low lying coastal roads.
High tides peak between 7.30pm and 9.00pm across the Western Isles tonight.
Strong southerly winds will start to back to the west late tonight as the very deep
Atlantic depression moves across the Hebrides.
A Met Office statement said: “Severe gales and locally storm force winds will affect
northwest Scotland during Tuesday evening and then the far north of mainland Scotland,
Orkney and Fair Isle early Wednesday.
“The public should be prepared for disruption, particularly to travel.”
Virtually all Cal Mac ferry sailings have been affected on Tuesday.
Inter-island ferry sailings have been cancelled due to rough seas so far today as
has tonight’s Stornoway freight ferry. The triangular Lochmaddy, Uig and Harris timetable
is liable to disruption.
The MV Clansman will not sail today to Castlebay and Lochboisdale. Her next scheduled
sailing on this route is Thursday.
This is the second severe gale in three days to hit the west coast.
All travel services to Barra suffered cancellations and delays due to very high winds
yesterday (Mon). Monday’s lifeline plane service to Glasgow was delayed and the return
flight to Benbecula cancelled due to the adverse weather. The Sound of Barra ferry
did not run yesterday (Mon) afternoon.