LONDON: Gusts of 70mph have been recorded on the Forth and Tay road bridges while the Met Office recorded a 59mph gust in Lerwick, Shetland, and a 55mph gust in Glasgow. 17,000 people have been left without power as a “weather bomb” bringing storm-force winds and giant waves hits the UK.
The electricity supply to the whole of Scotland’s Western Isles cut out shortly before 7am and engineers are working to restore it.The electricity supply to the whole of Scotland’s Western Isles cut out shortly before 7am and engineers are working to restore it.A rescue operation has also been launched to help a Spanish fishing vessel in difficulty in churning seas off Orkney. A rescue operation has also been launched to help a Spanish fishing vessel in difficulty in churning seas off Orkney. Shetland Coastguard said the rescue helicopter and Stromness Lifeboat had been sent to the scene.Warnings have been issued across northern England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland urging people to prepare for possible disruption and coastal flooding.Shetland Coastguard said the rescue helicopter and Stromness Lifeboat had been sent to the scene.Warnings have been issued across northern England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland urging people to prepare for possible disruption and coastal flooding.
Forecasters at the Met Office have predicted gusts of up to 80mph in exposed areas that could topple trees on to railways and power lines, rip roof tiles off and cause structural damage, as well as “exceptionally large waves” smashing into the western coastline.
Western and northern Scotland will be worst-affected and are covered by an amber warning for wind today, while the rest of the UK is covered by a yellow alert.
