Travel
Road, ferry and train Christmas travel disruption after weather warning
Travel across Scotland has been disrupted, with roads shut, ferry services cancelled, and train lines closed following a yellow weather warning.
It comes after a “perfect storm” of adverse weather conditions and road congestion led to widespread disruption during the Christmas getaway over the weekend.
The Met Office issued yellow warnings for wind in Scotland, which remained in place until 9pm on Sunday.
The forecaster also issued a yellow warning for ice in parts of north-east Scotland, which came into force at 9pm on Sunday until 10am on Monday.
Several Loganair flights from Glasgow Airport to the Hebridean islands were cancelled across the weekend, while 18 CalMac ferry routes were axed.
Gusts of 82mph were recorded at Kirkwall on Orkney and at South Uist in the Outer Hebrides – the strongest winds across the UK as of 2.30pm on Sunday, the Met Office said.
CalMac cited “strong winds with gusts up to 60mph” as the reason it cancelled all sailings on the Troon to Brodick service, connecting Ayrshire with the Isle of Arran.
It also cancelled the 6pm ferry from Oban, while farmers were warned no livestock could be transported on sailings to Tiree and Coll from Oban on Monday.
Monday has seen widespread travel disruption throughout the country on road and rail.
As of 8.16am, the A93 between Braemar and Spittal of Glenshee and the A939 Cock Bridge and Tomintoul were closed following adverse weather conditions.
A section of the M74 in Glasgow was closed overnight following a four-vehicle crash.
Traffic Scotland confirmed the M74’s southbound carriageway at Junction 2, Rutherglen, was closed at 6.54pm on Sunday, December 22, following a four-vehicle collision.
The road reopened shortly before 6am on Monday, 12 hours after the initial incident.
A section of the A9 near Dalnaspidal was closed following a traffic incident at around 4.16am on Monday.
As of 4.29am the southbound carriageway remains restricted. Drivers have been urged to avoid the area.
Scotrail confirmed on Monday morning that lines between Perth and Dunkeld & Birnam are currently closed due to an obstruction on the track.
The RAC estimated that seven million leisure trips were made on major roads during the weekend, excluding everyday traffic.
Conditions are expected to improve next week, and the UK could see a “grey Christmas” rather than a white one.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said: “We’re expecting to see some sunny spells further east and a lot of cloud from the west.
“Temperatures should rise considerably and it will be extremely mild over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
“In England and Wales, temperatures will be well above average with some grey in the mix.
“We’re expecting an average of around 12C or 13C on Christmas Eve and 11C or 12C on Christmas Day. The usual average for this time of year is 7C or 8C so we’ll be around double where we usually are.
“Overnight temperatures in Scotland for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be extremely mild.”
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