Warning: Amber
To expect: Wind
Affected areas: Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland
Start time estimate: Saturday 1am
End time estimate: Saturday 10pm
The Met Office has issued an Amber wind warning for several regions across the UK for Saturday, with conditions linked to Storm Amy.
The warning is covering parts of Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland. All local areas affected are listed below.
Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar as well as Orkney and Shetland will be battered by strong gusts. The high winds are anticipated to start on Saturday at around 1am and continue sweeping through the areas until 10pm.
The Amber alert for wind was announced at 11:05am on Friday, October 3.
A Met Office forecast said: “West to northwesterly winds will increase during Saturday morning, with gusts widely 60-70 mph, and perhaps occasionally 80-85 mph in very exposed locations. This is likely to lead to travel disruption and hazardous conditions. Winds are expected to slowly moderate through Saturday evening, but remain strong.”
What to expect
Longer journey times and cancellations likely, as road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected; Some roads and bridges likely to close; There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage; Injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties; Probably some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs.
What should you do?
Driving in these conditions can be dangerous, for yourself and other road users. If you must drive, you can do this more safely by taking the following actions; drive slowly to minimise the impact of wind gusts, be aware of high sided vehicles/caravans on more exposed roads and be cautious when overtaking, and give cyclists, motorcyclists, lorries, and buses more room than usual. Being outside in high winds makes you more vulnerable to injury. Stay indoors as much as possible. If you do go out, try not to walk, or shelter, close to buildings and trees. In advance of high winds, check for loose items outside your home and secure them. Items include; bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds, and fences. If you are on the coast, stay safe during stormy weather by being aware of large waves. Even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea. Take care if walking near cliffs; know your route and keep dogs on a lead. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items. Stay up to date with the weather forecast for your area and follow advice from emergency services and local authorities For further details see Met Office Warnings & Advice.
Full list of local areas affected
Grampian
Aberdeenshire, Moray
Highlands and Eilean Siar
Eilean Siar, Highland
Orkney and Shetland
Orkney Islands
What is an amber weather warning?
The Met Office has three categories of weather warning, depending on the likely impact of severe weather and also how likely it is to strike in a particular area.
A yellow warning is issued when weather conditions are expected to disrupt travel and traffic and may impact on daily routines but are not likely to pose a risk to life or property.
An amber warning is more severe and advises people to think about changing their plans to minimise the risk.
A red warning means weather conditions are expected to be dangerous with widespread damage to property and a risk to life, with the public usually advised to avoid travelling.
The Amber weather alert for wind will remain in place until 10pm on Saturday.