Transport was thrown into chaos over the weekend as Storm Ciara battered the north, and forecasters are warning that the worst is yet to come.
Gusts of up to 80mph brought ferry and rail services to a halt while visitor attractions were forced to shut due to the wild conditions.
More than 3,000 households were left in the dark in the north as SSE responded to several faults.
Engineers worked tirelessly to reinstate power to properties in Argyll and Aberdeenshire as the conditions caused disruption.
A yellow weather warning remained in place across the Highlands and Islands yesterday as Sepa issued 61 local flood warnings across the country.
Local flood warnings were issued for islands as well as Caithness, Sutherland, Findhorn, Nairn, Moray, Wester Ross, Skye and Lochaber.
Football fixtures were called off across the north and north-east, and the seafront at Cowie, near Stonehaven, was sealed off as stormy seas littered the promenade with rocks.
The railway line between Aberdeen and Inverness was closed on Saturday when a tree toppled onto the line between Keith and Elgin, and motorists reported several fallen trees blocking roads in Aberdeenshire.
Nigel Goody, Sepa’s duty flood manager, said: “Storm Ciara has continued to batter Scotland with a dangerous combination of high tides, high storm surge and high inshore waves across coastal areas.
“Whilst we’ve seen some powerful sprays, it’s important that people recognise the significant risks, avoid crashing waves and follow the advice of emergency services and local councils.”
Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig and Fort George, on the banks of the Moray Firth, were both forced to close following concerns for visitor safety.
Rail services on the West Highland line, between Glasgow and Mallaig, were withdrawn yesterday as services from Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh were also cancelled.
At sea, Calmac and Northlink ferry crossings remained on red alert as high winds and turbulent tides led to numerous cancellations.
Calmac services from Oban to Castlebay, Coll and Tiree were cancelled as crossings from Fionnphort to Iona, Ullapool to Stornoway and Uig, Skye to Lochmaddy remained docked.
The Northlink ferry from Lerwick to Aberdeen remained under review as the timetable for the Stromness to Scrabster service was revised.
And the Cromarty, Dornoch, Kessock and Skye bridges were closed to high sided vehicles.
The A96 Aberdeen to Inverness at Gollanfield was partially blocked on Saturday after a HGV overturned.
Met Office forecasters warned of further disruption in the coming days, with people told to expect wind, snow and ice until Wednesday.
A police spokesman said: “Winter driving is a question of common sense and all drivers should ask themselves if they really need to travel when conditions are poor.”
Meanwhile, widespread flooding and winds of more than 90mph rocked communities in England.
Dozens of domestic and international flights were cancelled and train companies urged passengers not to travel.
Horse racing, rugby union, rugby league and football fixtures, including the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham in Manchester, were all postponed.
Met Office amber and yellow weather warnings remained in force until 9pm last night as forecasters warn flying debris could lead to injuries or endanger lives.
Gusts of 93mph were recorded in Aberdaron, a village at the tip of the Llyn Peninsula, in north Wales, while Cumbria was swamped by 151.8mm of rain in 24 hours.
The town of Appleby-in-Westmorland in the county was hit by severe flooding as the River Eden burst its banks, with residents battling to protect their homes.
