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Hebrides News

Violent winds, heavy rain followed by snow and ice are forecast as wild weather is forecast to hit the Western Isles on Friday.

Stormy conditions are set to continue on Saturday.

Waves could top over 10 metres in height close to the west coast of the islands with even higher rollers offshore.

Storm Gertrude as named by the Met Office has resulted in an amber "be prepared" severe weather warning as the worst of the conditions slam into the Hebrides while people travel to work or school on Friday morning.

Islanders are warned to be prepared for the likelihood of difficult driving conditions and disruption to travel, such as cancellation to ferry services and bridge or causeway closures.

Some structural damage is also possible, as well as disruption to power supplies.

Heavy rain and surface water will be additional hazards in places.

Winds are expected to widely gust 60-70 mph, possibly up to 80 mph along exposed coasts and over hills, said forecasters.

A band of cold air is forecast to move in on Friday evening, bringing squally wintry showers, frequent and heavy at times and turning increasingly to snow.

Road surface temperatures are expected to fall below freezing overnight into Saturday morning, leading to a risk of icy patches.

The Met Office said winds will moderate from the west later on Friday morning.

However, gales and wintry conditions will continue to affect the Western Isles on Saturday.

The severe weather is caused by a rapidly deepening area of low pressure expected to track close to northern Scotland.

The Met Office said some uncertainty over the exact track of the depression and the depth of it leads to uncertainty in the location and strength of the strongest winds.

Wild storm to hit Western Isles

 

28 January 2016