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Home News Highlands & Islands

Trees toppled and ferry services cancelled as high winds sweep across the north and north-east

By Michelle Henderson and Chris Cromar
The Met Office have issued a yellow weather warning for wind covering large parts of the north and north-east, including Boddam Lighthouse in Aberdeenshire. Image: Paul Glendell/ DC Thomson.
The Met Office have issued a yellow weather warning for wind covering large parts of the north and north-east, including Boddam Lighthouse in Aberdeenshire. Image: Paul Glendell/ DC Thomson.

Coastal communities are being warned of potential flooding in the days ahead.

High winds are battering parts of the region, bringing trees down and cancelling ferries.

The alert, which was issued by the Met Office, came into force at 4am this morning.

It remained in place until 6pm, covering large parts of the Highlands and Islands, Moray, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Gusts of up to 86mph battered the summit of Cairngorm Mountain today as Ben Nevis experienced wind speeds of up to 69mph.

Flood warnings and alerts have been issued by Sepa, affecting large parts of northern Scotland – and more miserable weather is on the horizon.

Commuters experience travel disruption

The Dornoch Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles due to the high winds.

Motorists crossing both the Kessock Bridge and Skye Bridge are also being encouraged to use caution amid the turbulent weather.

Rail services between Inverness, Wick and Kyle of Lochalsh were disrupted for several hours after a train struck a fallen tree.

A ScotRail driver reported striking a tree between Dingwall and Muir of Ord on the Far North Line shortly after 8am.

Commuters have been facing delays and cancellations to a number of services as operators work to restore order on the line.

The A82 is blocked in both directions at Drumnadrochit due to a fallen tree.

In Aberdeen, Countesswells Road was partially blocked to traffic due to a fallen tree.

Ferry services on the west coast have been bearing the brunt of the disruption.

On Twitter, CalMac confirmed a number of crossings had been called off due to the tidal conditions.

Services from Oban to Castlebay have been cancelled for the day as well as crossings between Uig and Tarbert.

CalMac have also suspended crossings departing from Mallaig to Oban, Lochboisdale, and the Small Isles.

Coastal flooding can happen when storms bring high winds and heavy rain.Big waves and higher than normal tides can…

Posted by Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on Wednesday, 22 March 2023

Flood warnings in place

SEPA has also issued a number of flood warnings and alerts across the north and north-east.

Flood warnings have been issued for parts of Orkney, including Stromness, Burray and Ayre of Cara, St Margaret’s Hope, Longhope and Hoy, Sanday and Westray.

Warnings also remain in place across parts of the Western Isles and Fort William.

In the north-east, areas including Stonehaven, Peterhead to Boddam and Rosehearty to Fraserburgh remain under a red flood warning.

Streets surrounding the River Dee in the centre of Aberdeen have also been placed under a warning.

Coastal areas across the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Grampian are also being warned of potential flooding over the next 48 hours, as Sepa unveiled their three-day forecast.

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