People travelling home for Christmas by road, sea, rail and air were being advised to start their holidays early to avoid being disappointed by cancellations caused by Storm Barbara.
As snow fell last night in the Highlands in a sign of conditions to come in the next few days, Loganair, Scotrail, Northlink and CalMac ferries were encouraging customers to rearrange plans for Friday and Saturday and travel today.
And it emerged last night that Portree High School in Skye will be closed to staff and pupils tomorrow due to the severe weather forecast.
A recorded message through the adverse weather hotline which is published on the school’s website states: “The school will be closed on Friday, December 23 due to the severe weather conditions. We hope you all have a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.”
Scottish Government resilience arrangements have been activated to ensure Scotland is prepared.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said: “The Scottish Government’s Resilience operation is actively monitoring developments with updates from the Met Office, SEPA and the utilities companies, as well the emergency responders in the areas likely to be affected by adverse weather.”
Emma Sharples, Met Office spokeswoman, said last night: “We have had some quite windy conditions even through today with scattered showers, hail showers and some snow on higher grounds. It is more of the same on Thursday.
“There will be a brief respite overnight Thursday into Friday as it becomes a little bit quieter before Storm Barbara arrives at 9am on Friday morning.
“The weather will deteriorate quite quickly Friday morning from the west. There is a yellow warning in place for the north where the winds will be 60-70mph, the further north you go towards the amber warning area, the winds will be at 80-90mph.
“That is going to cause some structural damage, possible disruption to power supplies and travel.
“Friday afternoon will see the rain starting to clear away but this will be followed by very strong winds, then squally hail, with a little bit of snow around. On Saturday later on we get a bit of a breather after Storm Barbara moves through.
“We have a separate weather warning out for 9am on Sunday with more wind and rain coming on the heels of Barbara. Later there will be more squally showers, lightning, thunder. There is a risk of snow, especially but not exclusively over high ground.”
She said conditions should ease on Boxing Day.
A spokesman for Loganair said: “We expect to run a normal schedule on Wednesday and Thursday but are re-timing 27 flights on Friday to operate earlier, ahead of forecast weather deteriorations, and canceling 10 other services where forecasts indicate no reasonable prospect of being able to operate.”
The UK Coastguard said people should consider whether they should go to sea and if they are on they are on the coastline, think twice about going outside.
