Four days of weather disruption forecast for Scotland – BBC News, BBC News

        

                                  Image copyright                   Weatherwatcher Livvy                                                        

Four days of official weather warnings have been issued for Scotland as Storm Ciara approaches from the Atlantic.

Wind, rain, and possibly snow have the potential to cause disruption on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. (The (Met Office

said gusts of 70 to 80 mph were likely across many inland areas, with gusts of about mph in coastal areas.

There is a small chance of even stronger winds across parts of Scotland, potentially (to (mph.

) Severe weather

Forecasters have predicted disruption to flights, trains and ferries, damage to buildings and a “good chance” of power cuts due to the conditions.

Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said: “Storm Ciara will bring damaging winds and heavy rain across the UK this weekend and we have issued a range of severe weather warnings giving people time to prepare for potential impacts of the storm.

“Winds will increase through Saturday across Northern Ireland, Scotland, northern England and Wales, before turning very windy across the rest of UK through the early hours of Sunday morning. “

                                                                                                       Image copyright                   Magicseaweed.com                                                        

) Forecasters at Magicseaweed.com

, a website used by surfers to find the best surf conditions, said they expected “several pulses” of swell off north and west Scotland over the weekend and into next week.

Gale force winds could see wave heights of 6m ( (ft) off exposed coastal areas at the weekend, rising to 9m ( (ft) through Monday into Tuesday when winds are forecast to strengthen further.

Transport Scotland

has warned people to plan ahead and rail passengers are being urged not to travel on the East Coast Main Line between Scotland and London on Sunday.

Spokesman Douglas Cairns said: ” The Met Office has issued a number of severe weather warnings for this weekend, with Saturday and Sunday bringing the high winds and rain, and with Monday and Tuesday bringing snow as well.

“There’s going to be significant disruption to the traveling public so we’re asking them to plan ahead, be safe first and foremost, and check before you travel if you really have to travel. “

                                                                                                       Image copyright                   Met Office                                                        

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has flood alerts in place

in advance of the severe weather.

Flood duty manager Nigel Goody said: “Storm Ciara is bringing us some extremely strong winds – gusts of over mph in places.

“Particularly the west coast is going to suffer with that, and high ground.

“It’s the west coast that we are concerned about in terms of flooding.” (Ferry disruption

Ferry operator CalMac

has warned of potential disruption to all of its routes.

) And ScotRail has cancelled a number of services

as it prepares for the storm.

Network Rail has urged people living near railway lines to tie down or clear away garden furniture and trampolines.

Passengers traveling on Sunday and Monday morning have been encouraged to check for updates before they travel.

Preparing for Storm Ciara

                                                                                                       Image copyright                   Getty Images                                                    

Sources of advice during severe weather include:

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