Ferries were cancelled, roads were blocked by trees and debris, and thousands of homes were left without power yesterday as hurricane-force winds battered the Highlands and islands.
Aonach Mor, near Fort William, was hit by gusts of up to 142mph – and at Stornoway and Altnaharra in Sutherland wind speeds of 116mph and 93mph were recorded respectively.
Scores of schools were shut across the region and flights were badly disrupted.
In Argyll, a young driver had a terrifying ordeal as waves crashed over a road and threatened to wash her car into a sea loch.
Nursery nurse Gemma MacCowan was travelling to work when a huge wave from Loch Feochan, near Kilmelford, caught hold of her vehicle.
Police rescued her after she phoned her mother for help.
The winds had dropped by mid-morning, leaving council crews with scores of fallen trees to clear up.
But just as residents thought they were through the worst, the wind picked up again and snow started falling.
Last night, council officials were preparing to deal with plunging temperatures and had mobilised fleets of gritters.
Snow showers were spreading across the region and the Met Office forecast more snow today.
Highland Council’s acting head of roads and community works, Richard Evans, said officers were coping well and were monitoring the situation across the region.
He added: “We started getting calls from about 5.30am. But we were prepared for this.”
The River Ness burst its banks in the centre of Inverness at high tide and pupils at one of the city’s main secondary schools were sent home after parts of the roof were blown off.
The Skye bridge was closed most of the day, cutting off the island’s only road link with the mainland.
High-sided vehicles were also banned from the Dornoch and Kessock bridges, and the Eriskay causeway in South Uist was closed. Many other major routes were blocked by fallen trees.
Massive waves pounded newly repaired Portmahomack harbour, which was badly damaged during storms a year ago.
In the Far North, a giant silo – due to become part of a new vault for low-level radioactive waste at the Dounreay nuclear site – was ripped out of its housing and blown more than 400 yards towards houses at Buldoo.
The huge container crashed through two wire fences and was blown across two fields before it was brought to a halt by a dyke close to homes.
Resident Deirdre Henderson said it had caused significant damage to fencing and crops.
The Co-op store at Corpach was closed after the roof was damaged by the high winds.
The company said it was trying to reopen the store as quickly as possible.
In Highland region, 57 schools were closed. Wind turbines in the grounds of 13 primaries and secondaries were also switched off as a precaution.
All Uist and Barra schools were shut, along with Shawbost School on Lewis.
Planes and ferries were seriously disrupted, with most services cancelled. No mail arrived in the islands. It is hoped the backlog of stranded passengers will be cleared today.
A spokesman for Loganair said: “Weather conditions have led to the disruption of Flybe flights operated by Loganair, with some flights regrettably cancelled and others operating with delays.”