STV NewsSupermarkets across Scotland have been forced to shut as the country is hit with hurricane-force winds as Storm Eowyn red alert comes into place.
Multiple supermarket chains including Asda, Sainburys and Tescos have closed across Scotland and Ireland on Friday due to dangerous weather conditions.
The closures come after the Met Office issued a rare red alert as Storm Eowyn batters Scotland with the most intense weather in recent history.
The warning covers Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, the Highlands, Tayside, Strathclyde, the Scottish Borders and parts of the Lothians.
People have been urged to stay indoors and not to travel under what has been described as “exceptional circumstances” by STV meteorologist Sean Batty.
Forecasters warned that flying debris, large waves, and beach debris thrown onto seafronts, coastal roads, and properties could cause injuries and danger to life.
Sainburys confirmed that its supermarkets and convenience stores in Scotland and Northern Ireland would close on Friday.
All grocery online deliveries, on-demand services and Fast Track deliveries for Scotland have also been cancelled until conditions improve.
In Scotland, stores within the most significantly impacted areas will be closed from 7am to 6pm.
A spokesperson for the chain said stores will reopen once “it is safe to do so after the weather warning lifts”.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our colleagues and customers. We understand this decision may be inconvenient to some of our customers, and we hope they understand,” they added.
Tesco customers also received messages and emails informing them stores were to close and home deliveries and click and collect services were also cancelled.
Tesco urged shoppers to check its website for information on opening times and apologised for the inconvenience.
Asda confirmed some of its stores would be closed from 9am until it is safe to reopen.
A spokesperson said non-essential appointments with Asda’s health services, including pharmacy and optical services, will be rearranged at the affected sites.
Online deliveries for Asda customers have been cancelled.
Customers have been urged to use the Store Locator for further re-opening information for their local stores
An Asda spokesperson: “The safety of our colleagues and customers is paramount and so some stores will be shut from 9am this morning until it is safe to reopen.
“We will review the situation throughout the day and take in the latest guidance. We thank our customers for their understanding.”
A spokesperson for Co-op said stores under the red warning will remain closed, and added they expect stores to re-open as usual on Friday evening.
A spokesperson for Aldi said stores in the affected red alert areas will be closed from 9am until 6pm to “ensure the safety of our teams and customers”.
Morrisons confirmed that 49 of its supermarkets would be closing across Scotland, adding that the stores will reopen when it is “safe to do so.”
A spokesperson for M&S said: “At M&S the safety of our colleagues and customers is our number one priority. As a result of the red weather warning guidance issued in parts of Scotland, we have temporarily closed our stores in the affected area.”
Six Waitrose shops will be closed across Scotland on Friday, a spokesperson confirmed they will reopen as normal tomorrow.
Schools, public buildings and businesses across Scotland are closed.
NHS health boards across central Scotland have also cancelled all outpatient appointments.
No trains or ferries will run in Scotland on Friday and the public have been urged not to drive on roads unless absolutely necessary.
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