Hurricane warning for Scotland
Schools close as winds of over 90 mph expected to cause
widespread damage
Scotland is on red alert with hurricane-force winds set to hit
the country today, along with heavy sleet and snow.
A red alert is the highest possible warning that can be given by
Met Office, which monitors the weather.
Hurricane-strength winds of over 90 miles-per-hour are expected
to cause lots of damage and disruption.
Gale force winds have already hit the Western Isles and are
expected to cause disruption across the rest of the country as the
day goes on.
Schools across Scotland have closed or will send pupils home
early.
Lorraine Cameron from Renfrewshire Council said:
"The safety of our pupils is our chief concern.
"We realise this decision will cause parents some inconvenience
but in these circumstances we have no other choice."
The storms will be among the worst the country has seen for
years. They will cause flying debris, dangerous roads, bridge
closures, disruption to flights, train services and ferries, and
power cuts.
Southern and central Scotland are expected to be the worst hit
areas. The gales are expected to turn into category one
hurricane-strength winds.
Christmas attractions, including Glasgow's Ice on George Square,
will be closed.
Drivers have been told to travel only if they absolutely have
to. Householders have been warned to tie down anything that could
be blown over, like barbeques, children's play equipment and
bins.
Flood alerts have also been made. Heavy rain along with a lot of
melted snow is expected to cause many rivers to overflow.
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Hurricane warning for Scotland
What should people do to stay safe?
People have been advised to stay at home if they can. Everyone
should tie down or put away any outdoor furniture or things that
could blow around and cause damage, like barbeques, trampolines or
climbing frames.
Keep windows and doors inside the house closed all the time. If
you have to go out, try to use a door at the most sheltered side of
the building and close it behind you.
If you do go outside, try not to shelter close to buildings or
trees.
Drivers should not go anywhere in their car unless they
absolutely have to, and then they should bring supplies like food
and blankets with them in case they get stuck somewhere because of
the weather.
After the storm, do not touch any electrical or telephone cables
that have been blown down or are still hanging. Don't walk too
close to trees, buildings or walls in case they have been
weakened.
What is a hurricane?
A hurricane is a very dangerous weather system that has winds of
over 74 miles-per-hour. A hurricane is formed when low pressure
over tropical waters causes thunderstorms and winds to start
circling. In the northern hemisphere the system moves
anti-clockwise, in the southern hemisphere it would go
clockwise.
A hurricane is the same thing as a typhoon and both of these are
tropical cyclones. If there is a tropical cyclone in the Atlantic
or north-east Pacific, it is called a hurricane, but if it is in
the north-west Pacific it is called a typhoon. It is one of the
most dangerous natural hazards to people.
We don't get hurricanes in the UK because the waters around us
are too cold, but we can get hurricane-strength winds - meaning
winds of 74 miles-per-hour or more.
What does a "red alert" mean?
A red alert is the strongest possible warning that is given by
the Met Office about severe weather. It means that the weather it
is warning about is almost certain to happen and is expected to
have the maximum impact. When there is a red alert in force it
means that people should take action to protect themselves from the
weather.
How much trouble is today's storm expected to
cause?
The winds will almost certainly cause flying debris, dangerous
roads, bridge closures, disruption to flights, train services and
ferries, and power cuts. Most schools in central and south-western
Scotland have been closed or will send pupils home early today.
Schools in other areas of the country have shut too.
How strong can the wind get?
The strongest wind ever recorded in mainland Britain was in 1986
when gusts of 173 miles per hour were recorded in the
Cairngorms.
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