Warning 70mph winds set to batter Scotland

Tayside and Fife braced to feel effects of Hurricane Ophelia

Forecasters have warned that Tayside and Fife may be hit by the remnants of a tropical storm that could bring chaos to parts of Scotland.

Hurricane Ophelia is predicted to batter Scotland with winds as strong as 70mph from Monday into Tuesday.

The weather is expected to be severe it could cause “damage buildings” and bring disruption planes, ferries, trains and roads.

Power cuts are also likely and mobile phone coverage may be affected, with coastal communities being warned of a “large swell” and huge waves. so to to

The Met Office has placed a severe “yellow” weather warning on the Highlands, the Western Isles, Strathclyde, Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian and the Borders for Monday from 8am until midnight.

However, a spokesman for the forecaster said Tayside and Fife is not yet in the clear with the weather outlook for the regions being determined by the path of the storm – which will be an ex-hurricane by the time it moves into the UK and Ireland.

Ophelia, currently a category one storm, is moving across the Atlantic gathering winds in excess of 70mph.

Met Office spokesman Graeme Madge said the centre of the Opehlia “depression” is likely to be the counties of Cork and Kerry in Ireland, but added it could take a new track by deviating “slightly”.

People in Courier Country are being urged to keep an eye on the forecast in the coming days in case of changes.

Mr Madge added: “What I can say is on Monday and Tuesday winds across all of Scotland are going to be strong.

“Looking at some of the charts for Monday into Tuesday it looks as though there might well be quite strong wind affecting the east coast of Scotland as well, but they don’t meet the threshold of the warning area.

“The impact is likely to be greater in the west.

“At the moment it is slightly early because obviously this system is still south of the Azores.

“As it gets here we are looking at wind speeds of 50mph-60mph and in areas exposed in the Highlands we could well see gusts of 70mph.

“At the moment our best understanding is the centre of the depression, Ophelia, (is) off the southwest of Ireland on the Cork and Kerry coasts. At the moment it is a categoryone hurricane. As it moves she’ll lose her energy.”

He said: “There’s still several days until her arrival. Any number of things could happen. Weather can change.”