Yellow wind warning for Christmas day and early boxing day
Issued at: 11:50 on Thu 22 Dec 2016
Valid from: 03:00 on Sun 25 Dec 2016
Valid to: 09:00 on Mon 26 Dec 2016
A further spell of very strong winds is expected on Christmas Day (Sunday). Gusts of 50 to 60 mph are likely to occur quite widely, locally up to 70 mph. There is a lower likelihood of gusts exceeding 80 mph across the far north of the mainland and the Northern Isles. There is potential for disruption to holiday travel plans (for example restrictions on bridges and delays to ferry services). Other impacts, primarily across northern Scotland, may include disruption to power supplies and large waves affecting coastal areas, while heavy rain in the West Highlands combined with snow melt may lead to rising river levels. This warning has been updated to extend the validity time into Boxing Day (Monday).
A deepening depression will move northeastwards across the Atlantic, passing northern Scotland during the Christmas period and bringing a broad swathe of gales and severe gales to much of Scotland. There remains a fair degree of uncertainty in the exact track and intensity of the depression, which reduces confidence concerning the threat of particularly strong winds across the far north. Turning much colder later Christmas Day (Sunday) and into Boxing Day (Monday) morning, with blustery showers increasingly turning to snow. Some slight accumulations of around 2-4 cm are possible above 200 metres.
