Batten down the hatches as Storm Callum blows in
SCOTLAND faces another day of widespread travel chaos today as the third major storm of the year batters the West Coast.
The Met Office warned high winds could cause damage to buildings and power cuts, while heavy rain could bring flooding tomorrow.
The incoming Storm Callum triggered two yellow ‘be aware’ warnings from the Met Office, after a similar alert on Tuesday caused flooding and travel disruption to roads, railways and ferries.
The Met Office said 50 to 60mph gusts were likely across the entire West Coast today, ‘with the potential for gusts of 70 to 80mph around exposed coasts and hills’.
Transport chiefs have warned of disruption on the road network and possible bridge closures due to high winds.
Ferry operator CalMac last night cancelled some services on the West Coast and placed most routes on an amber warning for delay or cancellation.
With thousands of families expected to travel today on holiday, disruption is likely on the roads and at airports in the Central Belt, where heavy rain and wind speeds of 50 to 60mph are anticipated.
The country’s busiest airport, Edinburgh, expects more than 50,000 passengers through the terminal building today. An estimated 30,000 passengers are due to depart or arrive at Glasgow Airport.
A spokesman for Glasgow Airport advised passengers ‘to check with their airline for information on the status of their flight’.
A yellow warning for high winds is in place for the West Coast, the Western Isles and parts of the South West until midnight.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for rain for parts of southern Scotland for today, with this being extended to most of central and southern Scotland for all of Saturday.
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: ‘Heavy rain may lead to difficult driving conditions, with potential issues of surface water and reduced visibility, and winds may impact bridge operations and high-sided vehicles.’
The AA said drivers must heed warnings if they are to avoid being caught up in treacherous conditions.
Spokesman Luke Bosdet said: ‘I would especially urge drivers of heavy goods vehicles and highsided vehicles to pull over if they can feel themselves rocking.’
The A83 Rest and be Thankful in Argyll remained closed yesterday due to a landslide earlier in the week.
ScottishPower has placed teams of repair crews on standby to restore power should electricity lines be brought down.
A spokesman for power firm Energy Networks said: ‘Preparations are well under way to ensure we have engineers and equipment and customer care teams on hand to respond to faults.’
‘Difficult driving conditions’