Storm Bert to wreak havoc across the country as Scots urged not to travel

STORM Bert has developed into an Atlantic weather bomb and is expected to wreak havoc across Scotland today – sparking “horrendous” road conditions.

The storm making landfall has undergone what weathermen call “explosive cyclogenesis” which happens to the deepest areas of low pressure approaching our shores.

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As a result, the Met Office is predicting a “multi-hazard event” today, with foot-deep snow, torrential rain and coastal winds gusting to 70mph.

This morning could see the coldest temperature of 2024 should the mercury fall below -14C (6.8F).

Tomorrow, a fresh threat comes from flash flooding as rain combines with snow melt in a rapid thaw.

Power companies are drafting in engineers in case blizzards bring down power lines, particularly north of the central belt.

SSE said it was sending 750,000 text messages to vulnerable customers, advising them what to do if the lights go out.

In this area – governed by a 12-hour amber weather warning from 7am – Police Scotland are asking motorists to keep off the roads.

An extended alert was issued tonight, covering the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.

The amber warning was already in place for the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Angus.

Met Office forecaster Aiden McGivern said: “If you’ve got travel plans, I would urge you to think again.

“It really is going to be horrendous if you are travelling across parts of Scotland and Northern England. There could be significant impacts.”

All forms of travel – air, road, rail and ferry – are likely to see delays and cancellations as the second named storm of the season takes hold.

Superintendent Vinnie Fisher, deputy head of Road Policing, said: “All road users should consider if they really need to travel in adverse weather.

“When driving on ice and snow, keep well back from the road user in front. Stopping distances can be up to ten times greater than on dry roads.

“Check your windscreen washer levels and ensure your windows are completely clear before driving. Failure to do so can result in a fine.

“Listen to media broadcasts for updates, follow Transport Scotland and the Met Office on social media and share information with others.”

Tonight, CalMac began sheltering vessels in ports on the west coast to protect them from damage.

The ferry company said it feared the wild weather could disrupt the pier infrastructure at Castlebay, on Barra, and took the decision to re-position the MV Isle of Lewis to Stornoway ‘for safe berthing’.

Road operator BEAR Scotland will shut the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful in Argyll at 2pm and re-direct traffic under convoy along the Old Military Road at the foot of Glen Coe.

The mercury could plunge to a bone-chilling -14C (6.8F), which would make it the coldest UK temperature so far this autumn.

The chilliest so far has been Braemar in Aberdeenshire at Minus 11.2C (12F) on November 19.

If the mercury drops below Minus 14C, it will make it the UK’s coldest temperature of 2024.

Dundee United supporters are due to travel to Glasgow for the game with Rangers and Aberdeen fans face the long trip to Paisley to play St Mirren.

At the height of the country-wide warning period, which ends at 9am on Sunday, Hearts are due to host Celtic in Edinburgh this evening.

Today’s League 2 match between Elgin City and Clyde at Borough Briggs has been postponed.

BBC Scotland’s weather forecaster Christopher Blanchett told viewers: “It’s all change on the weather front this weekend, with an approaching area of low pressure that’s rapidly deepening.

“It is undergoing a process known as explosive cyclogenesis and this means a very windy spell of weather and rain and because cold air is in place, some snow as well.”

Today saw many more school closures in the north. Highland Council said 60 primaries, secondaries and nurseries were shut. There were dozens more in Aberdeenshire.

The snowplough called ‘Plougher O’ Scotland’ became stuck in deep snow just off the A835 near Aultguish, close to Ullapool in Ross and Cromarty.

It had to be pulled out by an HGV recovery vehicle.

A hardy workman was seen clearing snow in the remote village of Garve as traffic passed the snowbound Aultguish Inn.