Storm Gerrit packs a 70mph punch with power cuts across Caithness – Council advises against road travel
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) reported four unplanned power outages across Caithness at 2.30pm today as Storm Gerrit brought chaos to the county.
Highland Council said that partner agencies have been meeting to discuss the impacts of Storm Gerrit and reported on multiple trees and power lines down, blocking numerous routes in the region.
The council's roads teams are assisting with clearing trees, where it is safe to do so and the local authority says that "people are advised to avoid travel unless essential in these areas today".
Storm Gerrit is moving to the north east, making further impacts into Thursday, with unsettled conditions continuing into the weekend, comprising rain, winds and snow to upland areas. Thunder could be heard around Wick and a electricity pole burned out at Newton Hill.
Reported on social media were trees blocking the A9 at Berriedale that led to a tailback but have since been removed. One driver commented on "really bad flooding after Dunbeath at Janetstown before Latheron. Take it easy!".
There are also very long tailbacks on the A9 due to severe snow conditions at Drumochter. The A9 Dornoch Bridge was closed to High Sided Vehicles due to high winds affecting driving conditions.
Check the Met Office www.metoffice.gov.uk/ for information on the weather warning in place for today and Traffic Scotland for main route disruptions.
SSEN reported on five power cuts across Caithness this afternoon which include areas west of Thurso, around Castletown, John O'Groats, Thrumster and Berriedale.
Local weather pundit Keith Banks said that Storm Gerrit has certainly "packed a punch".
He added: "A gale force 8 east south-east wind lashing Wick and exposed parts of Caithness earlier in the day has increased to severe gale force 9. The gale has been punctuated by lots of gusts in the violent storm 11 category. The peak gust logged in Wick so far today was 70mph. This occurred in the 30 minutes ending 1-20pm.
"The gales will abate this evening as the fronts associated with Gerrit push northwards, with the wind veering south and eventually south-westerly as the centre of the storm transfers to northwards."
