Crews work to repair power lines

[TexasStooge]

From BBC News Staff Writers

Engineers are working to restore power to more than 5,000 homes in the north west of Scotland where supplies were cut by high winds.
The disruption in Argyll, parts of west Highland, Skye, Orkney and Shetland began about 2130 GMT on Monday.

Scottish Hydro said extra engineers and helicopters were being used in the operation to restore supplies where it was safe to do so.

Winds gusting at up to 100mph swept across the region.

Scottish Hyrdo spokesman Alan Young said it had been too dangerous to send out repair crews overnight and the aim was to have everyone reconnected during the day.

Help had been drafted in from its sister company, Southern Electric.

"We have got helicopters on standby and as soon as the light clears and it is safe to do so we will be out restoring supplies," he said.

"We have got the people and we have got the equipment and it is simply a case of getting on with the job.

"We are asking customers to bear with us but assuring them that we are doing everything that we possible can."

Phone lines in the north west have also been affected with a total failure of all landline services in the Lismore area.

Weather warning

A warning of extreme overnight weather in the Western Isles was issued on Monday by police and the local council.

The gusts reached 97mph on South Uist and the area was still experiencing strong winds on Tuesday morning, although conditions were expected to ease throughout the day.

Drivers were urged to take extra care due to tree debris on many rural routes and the winds were still affecting some higher level and exposed roads.

Speed limits were lowered for vehicles using the Forth and Tay bridges, high sided vehicles were warned to avoid the Kessock Bridge and there was a high wind warning at the Skye Bridge.

A flood watch was in place for the Western Isles rivers, as well as Argyll rivers and Loch Lomond, Dumfries and Galloway rivers, Earn, Skye and Lochaber, Stirling rivers, and Upper Tay and tributaries.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) had issued a flood warning for the River Lyon in Perthshire.

[P.K.]

I believe there was a sting jet last night contributing to the very strong winds. The highest wind gust I have seen is 102mph with a sustained three minute average of 80mph.