Thousands of homes remain without power and travel is still disrupted across northern Scotland following Storm Gerrit.
Power cuts are continuing to impact around 7,000 properties in the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and parts of Lochaber and Oban – with some set to be in darkness until tomorrow.
Several train lines are still closed after snow, heavy rain and 86mph winds wreaked havoc yesterday.
Drivers were stranded in snow on the A9 for 10 hours due to blizzard conditions, while heavy rain caused severe flooding and high winds toppled trees.
A new flood warning has also been issued for Kintore.
While all Met Office yellow weather warnings have expired, Sepa flood alerts are in place for Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen city; Orkney; Angus; Argyll and Bute; Caithness and Sutherland; Easter Ross and Great Glen; Findhorn, Nairn, Moray and Speyside; Sky and Lochaber and the Western Isles.
Warnings – which are more severe than alerts – affect Kintore in Aberdeenshire and Churchill Barriers in Orkney.
As the cleanup begins, here is the ongoing disruption where you are.
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
A flood warning has been issued for Kintore.
According to Sepa: “River levels have peaked and are now receding, though levels will remain high through Thursday.
“Significant depth of water inundation remains likely on B977 and surrounding agricultural land adjacent to the river.
“There is also still a risk of flooding to Castle Hill and Kingsfield Road.”
There are also power cuts in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
SSEN is providing vans serving hot food at the following Aberdeenshire locations.
- Finzean Hall, Banchory, AB31 6LY
- Hatton of Fintray, Aberdeenshire, AB21 0YG
- The Square, Tarland, AB34 4YL
- Bellabeg, Strathdon (opposite the local shop) AB36 8UL
- The Public Hall, High Street, Sandhaven, Fraserburgh, AB43 7EQ
- Aberlour Parish Church car park, 7 Victoria Terrace, AB38 9PW
Road closures
The A96 at Huntly remains closed in both directions due to flooding.
Traffic Scotland has advised drivers travelling north to exit the A96 at the junction of the A97 and travel to Banff. They should then join the A95 and follow the road until it rejoins the A96 at Keith.
For those driving south, they should exit the A96 at Keith with the junction of the A95 to Banff. Join A97 and follow until it rejoins the A96 at Huntly.
There is disruption on the B9033 from St Combs to the A90 after a tree landed on power cables.
The B993 Inverurie to Whiterashes is closed due to flood water.
The C138B road into Pennan is closed due to a landslide.
The C100S Rothiemay to Kinnoir is impassable due to flood water.
The B977 Kintore to Fintray is closed at the golf course due to flooding.
The B9005 Lovies to Methlick is closed due to flooding.
The C2S Mill of Eden is closed due to a landslide. It has been closed since before Storm Gerrit.
Roads that have reopened
The A948 at New Deer towards Auchnagatt is now clear, as is the B9030 from Stuartfield to Old Deer.
The A93 Braemar to Spittal of Glenshee snow gates have reopened.
The A939 Cockbridge to Tomitoul is now open as is the A920 Pitmedden, which was closed at Pitmedden Gardens and towards Oldmeldrum due to a fallen tree.
Trains and buses
The Aberdeen to Inverness line has now fully reopened, with safety inspections still ongoing on the Dundee line. Network Rail hope the Dundee – Aberdeen line will reopen tonight.
Network Rail expects work to restore the Inverness to Wick/Thurso and Aberdeen to Dundee to last until December 29.
Tickets for today and yesterday will be accepted for travel up to two days after the date printed on them.
Highlands and Islands
The A9 at Scrabster in the far north of Scotland has reopened following an earlier landslide.
Traffic management is being used to direct vehicles on one lane as the clear-up operation continues.
- Caithness: Wet roads and positive road surface temperatures on nearly all routes. Crews are treating part of one route with marginal temps as a precaution.
- Easter Ross: Damp roads with standing water in places on lower ground, higher routes have the odd sparkle and icy patches. All roads checked and treated accordingly.
- Skye and Raasay: Wet and mild.
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- The A9 at Scrabster in Caithness was closed due to a landslide. Image: Bear Scotland.
- Lochaber: Wet and mild overnight so no winter treatments required. Glen Nevis road remains closed with unstable and windblown trees. The clear up will take place during today.
- Wester Ross: Wet roads with temperatures rising. Higher routes checked and no issues.
- Badenoch and Strathspey: Roads generally wet with icy patches and wet snow on highest routes. Marginal temperatures.
A939 Grantown to Tomintoul road reopened at 10.15am after being closed due to drifting snow.
B970 closed between Loch Insh and Rothiemurchus due to multiple fallen trees.
- Sutherland: Mainly clear this morning with some frost and icy patches in the Bonar and Lairg areas and also between Aultnamain and Ardross on the Struie Road.
Debris on the A836 at Strathy due to washout of the verging/ditch.
Inverness: No known problems.
Nairn: Roads generally wet with some marginal temperatures.
Moray
Train services to Moray are impacted by severe weather.
Services due to run until 10.15pm between Inverness and Elgin have been cancelled.
Several Stagecoach Bluebird buses have been cancelled due to operational issues.
These include journeys between Aberdeen and Elgin; Lossiemouth and Pinefield; and Lossiemouth and the bus station.
West Coast and Western Isles
The A82 Fort William to Inverness road has now reopened. It was closed due to fallen trees between Invergarry and Fort Augustus.
However, the A82 Spean Bridge to Invermorrison remains closed due to fallen trees.
Train services between Inverness and the Kyle of Lochalsh are cancelled.
The Helensburgh to Oban/ Fort William line has reopened.
Energy supplier SSEN said there were power cuts in the Oban, Taynuilt, Dalmally and Inveraray areas. An engineer is on site – but there is no estimate of when the power will be back on.
Several Calmac ferries have been cancelled due to adverse weather, including sailings between Tayinloan and Gigha; Fionnphort and Iona; Oban and Lismore and Mallaig and Armadale.
You can check for disruption on your route here.
Orkney and Shetland
Wind gusts of 84mph were recorded in Lerwick around midnight last night.
The A970 North Road at Holmsgarth in Shetland has reopened.
During high winds overnight, significant damage has been caused to the roof of large commercial property near Lerwick Ferry Terminal.
The road will remain closed until the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service determines that the structure of the building is safe. This may take some time.
The nearby residential Old North Road is open to traffic, for access to and from local properties only.
Diversion signs have been placed at roundabouts near Jim’s Garage and at Co-op Supermarket. All traffic to and from Lerwick must use the A970 South Road while this diversion is in place. The diversionary route is via the Brig O’Fitch and the A9073 (Black Gaet) road.
