High winds were wreaking havoc across the north and north-east today as a yellow weather warning was in force.
Met Office forecasters issued a yellow weather warning for wind earlier this week, affecting the entire north and north-east region.
Gales of up to 105mph were recorded in the Cairngorms overnight, with winds speeds reaching highs of 68mph in Wick and 64mph in Tain.
Residents in Lossiemouth have also been enduring strong winds, reaching highs of 60mph.
In Aberdeen, boundary fences concealing work on Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens project collapsed overnight as harsh winds swept through the city.
Fencing erected along the city’s Union Street was left strewn across the road giving residents a first glimpse of the £28 million transformation.
It has been windy overnight and this morning across northern and eastern Scotland 🌬️
Here are the strongest gusts recorded up to 0800 today 👇 pic.twitter.com/LAAWSwFAf7
— Met Office (@metoffice) November 7, 2021
Firefighters were also called to an address in Claremont Gardens to secure a satellite dish which has blown off the roof of a three-storey building.
Transport operators and local authorities from across the region prepared for a busy day of disruption in the wake of the harsh weather conditions.
Road closures
As well disruption to rail services, the severe weather was a cause for the closure of a number of roads in the region throughout the day.
In Aberdeenshire, efforts have been underway at Dales Industrial Estate in Peterhead to upturn a HGV lorry which blew onto its side as a result of the gale-force winds.
Police have imposed a road closure in the area as the curtain sided lorry has blocked one of the estates main access roads.
A section of the A981 Fraserburgh to New Deer road is also to remain closed to motorists overnight due to a number of fallen down trees.
Police have imposed a road closure between Memsie and Strichen due to a significant number of trees blocking the route.
A diversion remains in place as Aberdeenshire Council workers work to clear the carriageway.
The B993 also remains partially blocked in two places due to a number of fallen trees.
Motorists face disruption between Kemnay and Monymusk due to a fallen down tree on the bends near Stanley Clark scrap yard.
Further down the road, a similar blockage has been reported close to Glenton Collages near Tillyfourie.
Meanwhile, in the Highlands and islands region, the Dornoch bridge remains closed to high sided vehicles as gales of up to 60mph are recorded in the area.
High tides also forces officers in Orkney to close the Churchill Barriers for some time before reopening the route around 3pm.
Rail disruption
Some disruption was also experienced on Scotland’s rail lines this morning as a result of the weather.
Rail services to Portlethen faced delays or cancellation after a tree fell down onto the line.
NEW: A tree is blocking the railway, @NetworkRailSCOT staff are on the scene at Portlethen but delays and cancelations are expected. We'll keep you updated. pic.twitter.com/8T6PPyAgbn
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) November 7, 2021
Network Rail engineers were called to the scene to begin work clearing the blockage to help avoid further delays to scheduled services.
Rail passengers travelling north were diverted via Inverness along the Highland Main Line before connecting to services heading east to Aberdeen.
The line has since reopened to commuters, with services beginning to return to normal.
Ferry disruption
Ferry operator Calmac were forced to withdraw a number of crossings as a result of the adverse weather conditions.
Sailings between Mallaig and the Small Isles; Mallaig and Admadale; Fionnphort and Iona and Tarbert and Lochranza were ground to a halt due to the rough seas and gale-force winds.
Meanwhile, a host of other scheduled crossings faced being axed or severely disrupted as a result of the weather.
Sunday 7th November 2021
Pentland Firth
Due to forecasted adverse weather conditions all sailings today have been cancelled.https://t.co/xs7xfl33mW
— NorthLink Ferries (@NLFerries) November 7, 2021
Northlink Ferries were also forced to call off services to Orkney today over fears for public safety.
M.V. Hamnavoe, due to sail between Stromness and Scrabster on the mainland, was called off for the duration of the day due to the conditions.