The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind covering the Scottish Highlands and the Outer Hebrides, with gusts of up to 70mph expected to hit exposed coastal areas on Wednesday between 10am and 7pm.
Forecasters say the storm-force winds are being driven by the remnants of Hurricane Isaias, which battered the United States before being absorbed into a powerful jet stream over the Atlantic. The result is a new area of low pressure that will sweep across north-west Scotland, bringing gales, heavy rain and disruption to transport links that island communities in particular depend upon.
What the Met Office warning covers
The yellow warning, in force for nine hours on Wednesday, covers parts of the Highlands and Na h-Eileanan Siar. The Met Office has forecast gusts of 50 to 60mph widely, with the most exposed coastal and hilly locations seeing winds of around 70mph late in the morning and into the early afternoon.
According to The Independent, which first reported the warning, the forecaster has urged people in the affected regions to check road conditions before driving and to consult bus and train timetables, amending travel plans where necessary. Households have also been advised to prepare for possible power cuts by gathering torches, batteries and a mobile phone power pack.
Short-term loss of power and other services is possible, the Met Office warned, and high-sided vehicles face delays on exposed routes and bridges.
Ferry cancellations and rail disruption
The practical consequences are already being felt. Sailings on a number of CalMac ferry routes have been cancelled or disrupted for Wednesday, with some disruption expected to continue into Thursday. For the islands of the Outer Hebrides, where the ferry is not a convenience but a lifeline, cancelled crossings mean cancelled medical appointments, delayed deliveries and families left stranded on the wrong side of the Minch.
ScotRail said heavy rainfall has also forced speed restrictions on the West Highland Line between Fort William and Mallaig, which will remain in place throughout Wednesday and until 10am on Thursday. The line, one of the great railway journeys of these islands, is a vital artery for local communities and a cornerstone of the Highland tourist economy outside the summer season.
The