Storm Ciara packs a punch and leaves Scotland reeling
Major travel disruption warning as more wind, rain and ice forecast
HEAVY snow and strong winds are set to hit Scotland today after the country was battered by torrential rain and gusts of more than 90mph as Storm Ciara swept through.
The weather wrecked buildings and caused mass travel disruption, while hundreds of properties suffered power cuts.
Forecasters warned that snow and winds across the country would pose a risk to rail and air travel, and made delays likely on routes over higher ground.
Further power cuts and loss of phone signal were also possible, said the Met Office.
The yellow alert for snow and wind covers the whole of Scotland for today and tomorrow, with an additional warning for snow and ice lasting until noon on Wednesday.
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “There is the potential for significant disruption on the trunk road network, as well as other modes of transport.
“It’s important that people check the latest information before they set off, drive to the conditions and follow Police Scotland travel advice.”
It comes after the country was pummelled by Storm Ciara, which saw Edinburgh Waverley railway station closed to non-scotrail passengers due to overcrowding on platforms and the main concourse caused by a string of train cancellations.
The station, which is one of Scotland’s busiest, was forced to close its doors from 11am, with reports of police manning entry gates.
Cross-border services between Scotland and London were also severely reduced after Network Rail imposed speed restrictions as a safety precaution, limiting the number of trains that could use the routes. Major operators including LNER, Crosscountry, Avanti West Coast and Transpennine Express all issued “do not travel” statements, urging commuters to postpone their journeys if possible.
Avanti West Coast, which runs rail services between London and Scotland, decided not to run trains north of Preston because of the storm.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said about 900 properties were still without power after the bad weather affected supplies in Mull and Lochearnhead.
The firm said supplies were restored to about 2,000 properties throughout yesterday morning after winds caused damage to power lines.
Meanwhile, high winds and downpours led the front of a cafe and guest house in Hawick, in the Borders, to collapse.
Police were called to Bridge House Guest House and Sonia’s Bistro at around 9.30am yesterday.
It was reported the building’s foundations were swept away after the River Teviot burst its banks.
Footage posted on social media showed a wall of the building disintegrating into the fast-flowing River Teviot, leaving the rooms inside exposed.
Emergency services said the building had been evacuated and there were no reports of any injuries.
An amber warning of heavy rain was in force between 2am and 10am yesterday in the Borders, while flood warnings were also in place.
By mid-afternoon, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) had issued 15 flood alerts and 64 flood warnings, including several covering the badly-hit
Borders region. Nigel Goody,
Sepa duty flood manager, said: “Storm Ciara has arrived with a dangerous combination of high tides, high storm surge and high inshore waves across coastal areas.
“Avoid crashing waves and follow the advice of emergency services and local councils.”
Police in Dumfries said the River Nith had also burst its banks at Whitesands and flooded the surrounding road.
Elsewhere ferry operator
Caledonian Macbrayne suspended or cancelled many of its services, as the west of the country bore the brunt of the bad weather.
Train operator Scotrail said it had suspended services between Kilwinning, Largs and Ardrossan “due to the severe weather conditions”, which included
“waves crashing over the sea wall at Saltcoats”.
One of Scotrail’s new Intercity high-speed trains was also put out of action after it struck a tree that had been blown on to the line near Insch, Aberdeenshire. Network Rail engineers were dispatched to cut up the timber with a chainsaw to clear the route between Aberdeen and Inverness.
Wind also caused damage to overhead wires between Wemyss Bay and Glasgow Central, leading to trains being suspended, while there were also delays between Helensburgh Central and Edinburgh due to flooding on the line at Blairhill, Airdrie, Bathgate and Newbridge.
A spokeswoman said: “As with all weather-related disruption, it’s frustrating for customers whose services are cancelled or delayed, but safety has to be our priority. We are doing all we can to keep our customers moving, despite the effects of Storm Ciara.
“We ask that customers keep an eye on our website, app or Twitter feed for live updates.”
The A78 road northbound between Largs and Skelmorlie, Ayrshire, was also closed due to flooding.
Inspector Davy Hynd, of Police Scotland’s Road Policing Unit, said: “There is a high risk of disruption in the affected area and, if you do travel, you are likely to experience significant delays. If you must travel, please plan your route, as well as alternative routes, in advance.”
Meanwhile, pictures posted online by the Glasgow Humane Society showed dangerous flooding at high tide on the pedestrian walkways of the city’s King George V Bridge and the Caledonian Railway Bridge.
The society, which runs a lifeboat service and advises on how to stay safe on Glasgow’s waterways, warned anyone on foot to avoid the area.
It tweeted: “Please don’t attempt to walk through this as there may be debris under the water and the current is exceptionally strong.”
Yesterday’s disruption took place after three people were injured in Perth on Saturday night when part of the roof collapsed at The Venue nightclub in high winds.
The fire service said three people were passed into the care of the ambulance service, though none of them was seriously injured.
Storm Ciara, a low-pressure system, developed in the North Atlantic and has tracked eastwards towards the UK and Ireland over recent days, hitting parts of England and Wales hardest.