Drivers have been warned to only travel if “absolutely essential” as ScotRail cancels all trains north of Dundee as Storm Gerrit wreaks havoc.
Travellers are facing severe disruption with roads closed and trains, ferries and flights cancelled due to snow, flooding and high winds.
Several major roads across the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeenshire were closed at points throughout Wednesday.
The A9 Perth to Inverness was closed for more than 10 hours before reopening cautiously at around 8pm.
The A90 was forced to close due to severe flooding at Laurencekirk from around 7.30pm. It is also closed near Crimond, Brechin and Forfar.
The A96 has been closed at Inverurie and Huntly for several hours.
The A93 is closed near Banchory due to flooding and at Smiddy Park where a section of the road is believed to have collapsed.
No ScotRail trains will be running north of Dundee until at least Thursday morning, with travellers able to use tickets on December 28 and 29.
Several Met Office weather warnings and Sepa flood alerts are in place, with drivers warned not to travel unless necessary.
Police Scotland said: “Members of the public in these areas may face numerous hazards such as flooding, flying debris, downed trees and power lines.
“Motorists are advised to take due care and travel only if absolutely essential.”
A yellow rain and snow warning is in force until 9pm tonight.
Local residents have been assisting motorists who have been stranded due to the various road closures.
These include Stewarts Hall in Huntly where they have opened Hall 3 to people stranded. They also have tea and coffee available.
Also located in Huntly is the Gordon Arms Hotel who were praised by stranded motorists for being able to quickly accommodate them.
In a post to social media, the grateful drivers gave a “massive thank you” to the staff at the hotel noting the two members of the bar staff were “kind and considerate”.
A wind warning is in place until midnight, and a wind and snow warning will affect Shetland until 6am tomorrow.
Flood alerts were issued for Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City; Argyll and Bute; Caithness and Sutherland; Easter Ross and Great Glen; Findhorn, Nairn, Moray and Speyside; Skye and Lochaber and the Western Isles.
A more severe flood warning has been issued for Churchill Barriers in Orkney.
Here’s the latest disruption where you are.
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Aberdeen city has already seen winds of up to 56mph, leading to fallen trees and road closures.
According to BBC Weather, gusts reached up to 76mph in Inverbervie today.
The Aberdeen v Motherwell game at Pittodrie was postponed, and the Christmas Village was closed.
Power cuts were also reported, with around 600 homes impacted across AB32, AB41, AB51, AB52, AB53 and AB42 postcodes.
Recycling centres, vaccination centres and libraries across Aberdeenshire closed early.
Attractions and parks including Haddo House also asked people to stay home.
Roads
The A90 been closed at Laurencekirk due to severe flooding.
It’s also restricted northbound at Stonehaven, near Crimond south of Peterhead, near Brechin and at Forfar.
The A93 has been closed due to flooding and landslides between Banchory and Crathes. The Spittal of Glenshee snow gates on the A93 were closed this morning.
The snow gates were closed on both ski roads, the A93 between Braemar and Spittal of Glenshee and the A939 between Cockbridge and Tomintoul.
The A96 is closed both ways between Corsmanhill Drive and Elphinstone Road, known as the Inverurie bypass due to flooding.
The A96 is also closed at Huntly near its junction with A97 due to flooding. There was also flooding below the Huntly railway bridge leaving cars stranded at either end.
The B977 is impassable from Northern Road to Station Road.
Roads between Stonehaven and Portlethen are described by motorists as “really bad” with motorists forced to drive on the inside lane for a long stretch because of surface water.
It is also understood that the village of Pennan, west of Banff has been cut off due to a landslide that has blocked the main road.
The Oldmeldrum-Inverurie road is flooded and impassable at Barra Berries, and the same road is also flooded at the entrance to Osprey Village in Inverurie.
The A92 at Bridge of Don was blocked due to a fallen tree which has now been removed.
Motorists are also being warned about surface water along fast routes across the north and north-east.
Fire crews also attended a pylon fire near the A952 near Mintlaw this afternoon. The incident was reported just before 5pm and the one fire appliance left the scene at 7.45pm after the fire was extinguished.
Trains, buses, ferries and flights
All ScotRail trains north of Dundee were cancelled for the day.
Citylink also cancelled all services between Dundee and Aberdeen due to road closures.
Stagecoach cancelled bus services between Aberdeen and Peterhead due to high winds.
Several Loganair and Easter Airways flights to and from Aberdeen were cancelled, with travellers urged to check with their airline.
British Airways also cancelled flights between London Heathrow and Aberdeen.
Highlands, Lochaber and Islands
Roads
The A9 had several closures along its route but according to police the road has now reopened to traffic but has urged drivers to drive carefully.
Several drivers were having to be dug out by rescue teams after the road became impassable and traffic was brought to a standstill from around 10am.
Police are asking drivers to remain in their vehicles, keep warm and “tune into radio or social media where further updates will be provided as soon as possible”.
There are reports from further north on the A9 where trees are said to be over the road at Berriedale, between Helmsdale and Lybster and between Scrabster and Thurso.
The issue at Scrabster is believed to be a landslide which has blocked the road.
In Lochaber, the A82 police have closed the road at Inverlochy in both directions due to several fallen trees blocking the carriageway.
The A82 was also closed northbound from Fort William to Spean Bridge, and between Invergarry and Fort Augustus.
The Glen Nevis road in Lochaber won’t re-open tonight. A road closure is being implemented overnight due to around 15 mature trees coming down.
There are power cuts in parts of rural areas in Inverness-shire, on Loch Ness-side, Fort William, and parts of Taynuilt and Dalmally.
Trains, buses, ferries and flights
There are no ScotRail trains on the West Highland Line or Kyle and Far North Line for the remainder of the day.
Caledonian Sleeper’s Highlander services have also been cancelled.
West coast and Western Isles
The Inner Hebrides and Western Isles have been plagued by high winds, which reached 69mph on Stornoway and 67mph in Tiree.
Trains, buses, ferries and flights
Several Loganair services have been cancelled, with customers urged to check directly with the airline.
All of Calmac’s 29 routes have been affected by weather.
Mallaig to Armadale and Mallaig to Small Isles have been cancelled for the remainder of the day.
The rest are disrupted with full details on Calmac’s service status page.
Orkney and Shetland
All Northlink sailings to Shetland and Orkney, and over the Pentland Firth have been cancelled.
Buses in Orkney have been cancelled for the remainder of the day.
Please contact us at livenews@ajl.co.uk with any updates, photos or videos.
Information accurate at the time of writing.
