Thousands of people have been left without power as wild weather causes chaos in the Highlands and islands.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning on the west coast with high winds and heavy rain forecast throughout the day in the north.
The Western Isles is the one of the worst hit areas, with electricity supplies cut to more than 17,000 people earlier this morning.
High winds and lightning are thought to have caused the problems.
SSE engineers have been at work throughout the morning to restore supplies and expect to have restored power to most by midday.
Two of causeways in the Western Isles – Vatersay and Eriskay – have also been shut by police in the past hour because of fears about the huge waves sweeping over the structures.
Schools, libraries and leisure centres have also been closed.
There are also power cuts reported in rural parts of Lochaber and Oban as well as areas, Dingwall, and Skye.
A further 2,500 people in Shetland are also without power.
In Highland, more than 2,000 children have been told to stay at home after bad weather forced the closure of more than 40 nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools.
The vast majority of closures are in Skye, Sutherland and Wester Ross.
There has also been a major rescue off the Northern Isles.
The O Genita is being towed to Westray after being struck by huge waves earlier this morning.