It’s positively menacing out there tonight, as strong gale force winds have arrived throughout the UK including here in Central Scotland.
Widespread warnings are in place across the UK as Storm Isha brings rain and gusts of wind of up to 90mph (145km/h) with expectation that damage to buildings, trees and property is likely.
We’re reading about Blantyre residents having fences blown down, damage to roof ridges, falled trees and even windows blowing out of a home.
Tens of thousands are tonight without power, including 45,000 in Northern Ireland, 8,000 in north-west England, and 3,000 in Wales. All Scottish trains after 19:00 were cancelled, and many services in England are being cancelled too.
The Sellafield nuclear site has suspended operations overnight. The government said in a staff update there were no safety issues. Short, brief power cuts have been taking place in Lanarkshire and some residents are reporting loss of broadband and satellite tv services.
By the time most of us wake up tomorrow to view the effects of tonight’s storm, winds will have eased and Isha will have cleared off north-eastwards into the Norwegian Sea. However, the residual effects will see further strong winds with us for next few days and at times particularly fierce in the west of the country. Please do take care if you’re out and about, and do let us know if you see any damage which needs public awareness. Stay safe.
