Met Office issues yellow weather warnings for winds West of Scotland

The latest warning will come into force at 9pm on Sunday and remain active until 12pm on Monday, adding to ongoing alerts for snow and ice across the country. 

The main areas impacted will be Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, and West Dunbartonshire, and potentially affecting travel in and around Glasgow.

Strong southwest winds are expected to begin impacting the southern part of the alert area on Sunday evening and track northward overnight.

The Met Office warns of gusts between 60 and 70 miles per hour in exposed coastal areas, with a small risk of gusts reaching up to 80 miles per hour in the most vulnerable locations.

Landlocked regions may experience winds of 40 to 50 miles per hour, heightening the risk of travel disruptions, power outages, and fallen debris.

These new alerts come on top of ongoing warnings for snow and ice across the country.

According to official forecasts, the current mix of remaining ice from previous weather conditions and strengthening winds is expected to further complicate travel plans, especially during Sunday night and into Monday morning.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has issued a statement, urging people to be prepared for the continued severe weather.

She said: “This prolonged period of disruptive winter weather is set to continue, with the Met Office forecasting further heavy snowfall in the north of Scotland.

“The conditions will inevitably impact the transport network, so it is vital that people and communities continue to plan ahead to ensure they stay safe. If you are in the area covered by the amber warning, you should consider delaying journeys if you can and working from home if that is an option.”

Railways are also on alert with ScotRail warning passengers of possible disruptions to its services across some routes due to severe weather conditions.

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail's service delivery director, said that with the weather forecast, some services might see speed restrictions which would mean longer journey times.

"We would urge passengers to check their full journey before they travel," he advised.

ScotRail teams are gearing up to maintain services where feasible amidst the difficult weather.

Elsewhere, the Met Office has recommended securing items outdoors, avoiding unnecessary travel, and keeping informed on the latest forecasts and warnings as the situation changes.

Click here to see all the weather warnings issued by the Met Office.