Scotland Shut Down By Icy 165mph Blasts

[Mark R]

Hope all our friends across the pond are safe. Cant imagine what this would be like.


http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16125967


Scotland Shut Down By Icy 165mph Blasts


10:00pm UK, Thursday December 08, 2011
A fierce storm with winds of up to 165mph has battered northern parts of Britain, with people warned to stay indoors, schools forced to close and flights and rail links cancelled.

Localised flooding has also caused major disruptions on roads - and more than 30,000 homes have been left without power.

In North Yorkshire, a RAF helicopter plucked a couple to safety after their car was swept away in floodwaters near Aysgarth. They were flown to hospital with suspected hypothermia.

A third person was also rescued from his car in a separate incident near the village of Gunnerside.

Police have advised against all travel until at least 2am Friday, when winds are expected to ease.

The Met Office earlier issued its strongest warning - a red alert - for winds in Scotland and warned parts of England and Wales to "be aware", as temperatures were expected to drop and snowfall was predicted as far south as Birmingham.

It said the Highland observing station at Glen Ogle reported a gust of 104mph at 11am. The Met Office later tweeted that a gust at the Aonach Mor ski area peaked at 137mph.

A lorry makes its way along the A66 between Yorkshire and Cumbria in heavy snow

A lorry makes its way along the A66 between Yorkshire and Cumbria

But further north in the Cairngorms, winds topped 165mph - the fastest gust recorded in the UK since 1986 when 173mph was felt, also on the top of the summit.

A Met Office spokeswoman said: "We do not issue red warnings lightly. That is why people need to take heed of it and take appropriate action."

By 2.45pm Scottish Rail confirmed it was suffering severe disruptions on express routes and minor disruptions across Highland, central, southwest and sleeper services.

It later suspended all routes from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, Perth and Dundee.


Flights to and from Scotland were also affected by the wild weather. Up to 5pm, Glasgow Airport had cancelled 37 flights and Edinburgh Airport said it was forced to cancel 21 flights with a further three also having to be diverted.

Passengers have been advised to check the status of their flight before going to the airport.

A tree fell on a house, damaging the roof, in Scotland during wild weather

Police blocked a country road in Scotland after a tree toppled onto a house during the wild and windy weather battering the area

Flood warnings were issued for parts of northern England, with train speed restrictions in place between Carlisle, Leeds and Skipton.

In the Republic of Ireland, Malin Head was hit by steady winds of 58mph and gusts of 80mph, while ferry crossings to Cairnryan were cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Welsh Environment Agency warned of strong winds, with heavy rain expected for both mid and north Wales.

[CopperNGold]

Wishing all of you warmth from the cold and shelter from the wind, rain and ice. Take care, and report back to us when you are able.

Jocelyn

[Nighthawk]

I love wintery, windy, snowy weather... but good lord!! That's a hurricane and a blizzard combined! Hope everyone stays safe!!

[Father Bill]

Cares and prayers for Scotland the Brrrrrrave.

[davidg]

All appears calm again down here in Central Scotland, near to Edinburgh. Yesterday's winds have been variously reported as between 85 and 100 miles an hour with gusting on the mountains to 165 miles. That ties in with Mark's post but the Cairngorms (165 mile gusts) do contain Scotland's second highest mountain (Ben Macdui) with the largest mountain being Ben Nevis (which is right next to Aonach Mor ski range with the 137 mile gusts)

Scotland is on an amber weather alert today with heavy snow expected in many parts of the country

[Laird_M]

Warm wishes to all our brothers and sisters in Scotland.

May the Triples Gems bless and guard you and keep you safe.

[flyingshamrock]

I love wintery, windy, snowy weather... but good lord!! That's a hurricane and a blizzard combined! Hope everyone stays safe!!

I second that! All the more reason to stay inside and warm up with a glass of scotch. Prayers are on there way...

[Chas]

Have just got off Skype with John Duncan of Sketraw, who is in Huntly in Aberdeenshire. They have lost power and it is not expected back till this evening. Because he lives on a farm, he has a backup generator to keep all his essentials alive. He also uses a log burner for hot water and heat.

His two boys (11years and 8 years old) think it is a great adventure! His wife, not so much!

Regards

Chas

[Jordan]

It's calmed down alot here, I'm through at my work in Aberdeen and while I'm ok I know people's houses have been damaged in the wind and one of the guys I work with found a massive trampoline in his back garden this morning. I think we are expecting snow later on as well.

[Father Bill]

Och - a wonderful excuse to stay home w' a wee dram... or two!