Storm Bram to batter parts of Scotland with 90mph winds

Key Points

Amber warning for wind to come into place from 4pm on Tuesday
Alert covers the Highlands, Western Isles, and Argyll and Bute
Storm Bram to bring gusts of up to 90mph amid a danger to life
Power cuts and disruption to travel likely
Yellow warning for wind and rain across much of Scotland until Wednesday

Storm Bram is to batter Scotland with winds of up to 90mph.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for wind that covers the Highlands, the Western Isles, and Argyll and Bute, which is set to come into place at 4pm on Tuesday until 11.59pm.

Yellow warnings are also in place for wind and rain across much of the country until Wednesday.

Forecasters warn a deep area of low pressure passing close to the west of Scotland could bring very strong southwesterly winds to west and northwest parts of the country.

Gusts of 70-80mph are expected, with a chance that a few places may experience gusts of up to 90mph.

The Met Office said the “disruptive” winds risk causing disruption to travel routes across rail, ferry and air, while also posing a damage risk to buildings and homes.

Forecasters are warning of a danger to life from flying debris, large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.

The public has been warned to expect delays to public transport, particularly ferries, spray and flooding on roads, as well as potential power cuts and flooding in homes and businesses.

Members of the public are urged to stay safe in coastal areas and to be aware of large waves, while walkers are urged to stay back from cliffs and keep dogs on leads.

Regions and local authorities affected:

Highlands & Eilean Siar

Na h-Eileanan Siar
Highland

Strathclyde

Argyll and Bute

Insight Jo Farrow STV News weather forecaster

Scotland is stuck in a mild but wet and windy Atlantic flow this week. There have been bouts of heavy rain moving north-eastwards adding to rivers and puddles but also after the recent “Super” full moon there have been high spring tides and coastal flooding.

Next will be Storm Bram midweek, which has been named by Met Éireann, the Irish Meteorological Service which will bring more heavy rain on Tuesday morning.

This is the second named storm from the western naming group of UK, Ireland and the Met Office. Storm Amy was early in October and we have also seen Claudia which brought heavy rain to the UK. Claudia was named by the Spanish Met Service in a different southwest naming group.

Bram (as in Abraham) looks set to bring heavy rain from the south early on Tuesday. Much of mainland Scotland will see a grim Tuesday morning with heavy rain and blustery winds although it will feel strangely mild in this southerly flow. Don’t be fooled in northern Scotland early on Tuesday where there will be a calmer, drier start. The weather will deteriorate especially for the Western Isles.

Depending on the track of the windstorm it looks like the west coast of Ireland will see wild conditions by day and these should reach the west coast of Scotland by Tuesday afternoon.

The storm will then rage through Tuesday night for western Scotland with an Amber wind warning for the Western Isles. The wild weather will continue into Wednesday morning for the northwest and north of Scotland, particularly for the Islands. with a windy day across the mainland.

The winds will ease down as the storm slowly eases away northwards towards western Norway but it will take until Friday for calmer weather to arrive for Scotland.

A strong Jetstream across the Atlantic is directing low pressures our way and helping to deepen some of them. There has been cold air over North America which bought snow to Washington on Friday as the World Cup fixtures were being announced. There is still milder air over the mid-Atlantic and the stark temperature contrast helps strengthen the jet at this time of year.

Storm Bram will deepen rapidly on Tuesday as it moves northwards past western Ireland and then western Scotland. The Inshore Waters forecast from the Met Office mentions Severe gale force 9 winds, up to Storm force 10, even violent storm force 11 around The Minch with very rough, even high seas. Expect ferry disruption.