More than 40 flood warnings issued as Storm Ashley sweeps Scotland

An amber weather warning is in place for the Western Isles and parts of the Highlands from 9am until midnight, while a yellow warning is in place across the whole country until midnight on Sunday, October 20.  

Gusts of up to 80mph could hit north west Scotland and “injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties,” the Met Office said.

(Image: Met Office)

As it stands, there are 10 regional flood alerts in place in the following areas:

• Argyll and Bute
• Ayrshire and Arran 
• Caithness and Sutherland
• Dumfries and Galloway 
• Orkney
• Shetland
• Skye and Lochaber
• West Central Scotland
• Wester Ross
• Western Isles

Meanwhile, more severe flood warning alerts have been put in place in more than 30 areas across Scotland, including: 

• Stonehaven
• Ayr to Troon
• Oban
• Upper Solway Firth
• Nith Tidal 
• Southerness Point
• Rough Firth
• Kirkcudbright Bay
• Fleet Bay
• Inner Wigtown Bay
• Outer Wigtown Bay
• East Luce Bay
• West Luce Bay North
• South West Rhins
• Loch Ryan
• Whitesands
• West Luce Bay South
• Stromness
• St Mary’s and Graemeshall
• Burray and Ayre of Cara
• Churchill Barriers
• St Margaret’s Hope
• Longhope and Hoy
• Sanday
• Westray
• Lochybridge
• Corpach and Caol
• Fort William
• Vatersay Causeway
• Eriskay Causeway 
• South Ford Causeway 
• North Ford Causeway 
• Berneray Causeway 
• The Braighe 
• Castlebay
• East Barra
• Barra Airport
• Ardmore to Loch Carnan
• Eochar
• West Benbecula 
• Balivanich and Benbecula Airport
• Locheport
• Baleshare
• Lochmaddy
• Leverburgh
• Seilebost and Luskentyre
• Stornoway

Travel disruption

Widespread travel disruption is also expected as a result of the storm with a number of ferry and rail services to be affected.

According to CalMac’s website, the following services have all been cancelled for today due to the storm:

• Adrossan – Brodick
• Troon – Brodick
• Claonaig – Lochranza
• Ardmhor, Barra – Eriskay
• Oban – Castlebay
• Colintraive – Rhubodach
• Wemyss Bay – Rothesay
• Oban – Coll – Tiree
• Oban – Colonsay – Port Askaig – Kennacraig
• Gourock – Dunoon
• Tayinloan – Gigha
• Uig – Tarbert
• Fionnphort – Iona
• Kennacraig – Port Askaig, Kennacraig – Port Ellen
• Tarbert, Loch Fyne – Portavadie
• Ullapool – Stornoway
• Uig, Skye – Lochmaddy
• Berneray – Leverburgh
• Mallaig – Armadale
• Mallaig – Small Isles
• Mallaig/Oban – Lochboisdale

ScotRail has already urged people to check their journeys before travelling while Network Rail confirmed speed restrictions would be in place on a number of routes – the full list of which can be found HERE.