'Storm Abigail' to bring severe gales to Scotland

Surface pressure chart for midnight Friday 13th November

Storm Abigail, the first storm named as part of the Name Our Storms project, will bring strong winds across the far north of the UK tonight and tomorrow.

The national severe weather warning issued by the Met Office on Tuesday has now been reduced to a ‘be prepared’ amber warning for the far north and northwest of Scotland.

The storm has the potential to cause some disruption in these areas as a deep low pressure system crosses to the north of the UK.

Storm Abigail is the first storm named by the the UK and Ireland’s National Met Services, the Met Office and Met Éireann’s Name Our Storms project.

Across the far north and northwest of Scotland including the Western Isles and Northern Isles, severe southwesterly winds are forecast to develop with gusts of 70-80mph, perhaps increasing to storm force for a time with gusts of 90mph in exposed locations before the winds gradually ease tomorrow.

Much of central and northern Scotland are likely to see severe southwesterly gales later todayy with strong winds extending to eastern areas and across the Northern Isles into tomorrow morning. Gusts of 60-70 mph are likely with the possibility of some gusts exceeding 80mph in exposed locations.

An additional hazard will be lightning associated with squally showers circulating the storm system.

Paul Gundersen, chief operational meteorologist for the Met Office said: ‘With wind gusts reaching 70-80mph widely across the warning area with gusts of 90mph in exposed locations there is the potential for disruption to transport, including ferries and power supplies. The strong winds combined with high tides are likely to cause overtopping of coasts and causeways leading to additional hazards.’

Met Office meteorologists are keeping a close eye on developments and will update the warning as necessary.