Amber wind warning
Travellers are being warned to expect high winds across large parts of the east of Scotland as Storm Malik moves into Scotland this weekend.
The Met Office has issued an amber wind warning covering parts of Grampian, Tayside, Fife, Lothians and Borders, which is valid from 7am to until 3pm tomorrow (Saturday 29th Jan). A yellow wind warning will be in place for the rest of Scotland during that period. A separate yellow wind warning covers the whole of the country from 6pm on Sunday until midday on Monday.
Police Scotland’s travel advice is warning of a high risk of disruption. Gusts are expected to reach 75mph in some parts and bring the potential for restrictions on bridges in the affected areas. There is also the chance of power cuts and damage to property.
The Deputy First Minister has chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Room to ensure Minsters are up to date on preparations. Both the Transport Scotland Resilience Room and the Multi Agency Response Team will be stood up for the duration of the warning to monitor conditions. Traffic Scotland will be providing updates on social media, as well as their website and radio broadcasts, from the National Traffic Control Centre.
Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth said:
“The Met Office is warning us that Storm Malik will bring strong winds across Scotland this weekend. The east of the country, in particular, is going see some difficult conditions, with winds reaching speeds of up to 75mph in some areas.
“There is the potential for disruption on the roads, especially on bridges, so I’m urging people to plan their journey before they set off, drive to the conditions and follow Police Scotland travel advice.
“Motorists should check the Traffic Scotland service to make sure their route is available. The Traffic Scotland mobile website - my.trafficscotland.org - lets people get the latest information on the move and Traffic Scotland twitter page is updated regularly. You can also find details of ‘wind based’ closures for the bridges on the trunk road network, allowing you to plan ahead accordingly.
“The conditions could also lead to disruption on other modes of transport, so if you’re planning to travel by train, ferry or air, you should check with your operator to see if your service is affected.”
Superintendent Simon Bradshaw, deputy head of road policing, said:
"We are asking motorists to be prepared for the potential for strong winds across Scotland following the Yellow weather warnings from the Met Office and Amber warnings for the east of Scotland.
"You should allow extra time for your journey and drive to the road conditions.
"I would urge motorists to check the Met Office and Traffic Scotland websites and social media before setting out on their journey, particularly in those areas most affected by the predicted adverse weather.”