Dozens of CalMac services disrupted as strong winds batter Scotland amid yellow weather warning

Dozens of CalMac routes across Scotland have been disrupted as strong winds batter the country.

On Thursday morning, the ferry operator said 20 of its 30 routes were affected by adverse weather, with cancellations hitting South Uist and Barra ferries.

Disruptions of one or more sailings were reported across 12 other routes, including Arran, Bute, Cowal and Dunoon, Cumbrae, Gigha, Harris, Islay, Kilcreggan, Lewis, and North Uist ferries.

CalMac warned customers on six other routes that services are “liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice”.

It comes as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain across the Central Belt, Borders, Dumfries and Galloway and Argyll and Bute on Thursday, with some areas expecting as much as 60mm of rain.

“Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough” seas off the west coast and across the Hebrides have also been forecast.

A north-easterly gale force eight warning has been continued, ringing wind speeds of approximately 42 mph and maximum wave heights of around 7.5 metres.

On land, the Met Office said some areas of the UK could see a “month’s worth of rain in 24 hours”, with “persistent and at times heavy rain leading to some disruption”.

The weather authority warned that flooding of a few homes and businesses is possible, with bus and train services likely to be affected and journey times impacted.

The warning is in place until 7pm on Thursday.