70mph Atlantic storm triggers ferry warning

AN Atlantic storm is expected to blast Scotland with 70mph winds tomorrow night.

For weeks the country has been protected by high pressure, which has deflected Atlantic weather systems towards Iceland.

A strong jetstream, however, has shifted south and in the process removed protection from a succession of weather systems barrelling in from the Atlantic.

Last night, ferry operator CalMac put many services under notice of delay and cancellation for today and tomorrow.

Sophie Yeomans of the Met Office said: ‘The first areas to experience severe gales will be the west of Scotland and the Western Isles. The strongest of the winds will be felt on Monday night, when 60-70mph is possible, especially on exposed coastlines.

‘The only consolation is that temperatures rise quite considerably as the winds take hold. The storm is then expected to loop round on Tuesday, when the main area affected will be Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.’

It is this wind direction which could see the storm being named, either by the Met Office or – more likely – by the Irish weather service Met Eireann. If this happens, we will be told to brace for Storm Gareth.

Ms Yeomans added: ‘There is quite an unsettled week to come. The strong jetstream has moved south, bringing in frequent weather systems from the Atlantic.

‘It is not unusual for this time of year. It’s just that we have become used to a prolonged period of very settled weather.’

Before the storm arrives, half of Scotland has been warned to expect heavy snow this morning, with up to six inches forecast for higher ground.

Affected areas include Central, Tayside, Fife, the Highlands and islands, the south-west, Lothian and Borders and Strathclyde.

Ms Yeomans said: ‘Significant snow is expected to build up in some places, mostly on high ground in the north. But we may also see it settling for a time even at lower levels.’