Ciara fades, but now Dennis the menace roars in
STORM Ciara may be on her way out... but hold on to your hats as Scotland prepares to be hit by yet another fierce winter storm.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning over Storm Dennis, which will see the country lashed by strong winds and heavy rain from Friday.
The fourth named storm of the winter, it will bring yet more gale force winds and heavy downpours, causing further flooding.
Gusts of 50mph are expected, with more than 60mph possible over hills, coastal areas and exposed locations.
The prospect of yet more bad weather comes as mountain rescuers called four walkers ‘a bunch of idiots’ for climbing Ben Nevis without adequate safety gear during Storm Ciara.
The four foreign tourists, three of whom were wearing trainers, were saved from a -20C blizzard near the summit of the mountain on Monday evening as the storm battered the country.
Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, who committed 27 members to the search, posted images of the dramatic operation on Britain’s highest peak.
Describing the danger the walkers had placed themselves in, a spokesman for the rescue team said: ‘Extremely lucky people. No winter kit – no ice axes, no crampons and, as far as we are aware, no maps.
‘Three of the guys were in trainers. They were about 150m [490ft] down into Coire Eoghainn on steep ice and if they had slipped or gone down any further, consequences could have been far more serious.’
After rescuers walked the group off the mountain, they were taken by helicopter to Belford Hospital in Fort William, Inverness-shire, for treatment.
John Stevenson, the rescue team leader, said his team gave the climbers ‘a piece of our minds’ after finding them.
Mr Stevenson added: ‘It was sheer stupidity. They were a bunch of idiots.
‘We have never had to rescue people in trainers in winter before. They are so lucky to be alive.’
Last night, Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team shared a photo of a donation made to them by the group they rescued, which included £200, two bottles of wine, some chocolates and a bottle of whisky.
The rescuers said: ‘The casualties admit they made a significant error of judgment and are extremely sorry for the results of their actions.’
Elsewhere on the roads yesterday, the M74 was closed southbound at Junction 12, near Uddingston, Lanarkshire.
A landslide blocked the railway line between Kilmarnock and Dumfries, and safety staff were conducting inspections yesterday. ScotRail said the line would remain closed until tomorrow morning at the earliest.
The West Highland line, which had been closed for two days, re-opened. In the Highland region, more than 900 pupils had a day off school as bad weather led to the closure of six primary schools, six nurseries and Kingussie High School.
A warning for snow and ice is in place until noon today, with strong winds possibly creating blizzard conditions across all of Scotland, except the North-East and the far South-East.
Clare Nasir, of the Met Office, said difficulties on the roads overnight would continue into this morning.
She added: ‘It will be a bitterly cold afternoon before the snow showers become more scattered. Through Wednesday into Thursday, we expect an area of cloud and rain to move up from England and Wales. So through Thursday, where it hits the cold air, it could turn to snow for a while.’
Scotland again features in a Met Office warning for Friday,
‘Three of the guys were in trainers’ ‘Bitterly cold afternoon’
this time for heavy rain in the South-West, Lothian and Borders and South Lanarkshire. The warning lasts from 9am until 5pm.
At the weekend, the country is expected to get caught up with the rest of the UK in 60mph Storm Dennis.
Steve Ramsdale, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘Another spell of very wet and windy weather is expected for Saturday, and although Storm Dennis is currently not expected to be as severe as Ciara, disruption is still likely.
‘With further warnings possible over the next few days, people should keep up to date with the Met Office forecast using our website, app or by following us on social media.
‘Our confidence in the forecast means we have been able to issue severe weather warnings well in advance, giving people time to prepare for potential impacts of the storm.’