SCOTLAND BRACES FOR STORMS

[tropicana]

Scotland next as storms hit the south ..SAT NOV 15th 2003

JAMES REYNOLDS ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT


POWER firms, emergency services and airports were Friday night bracing themselves for high winds after Ireland and western parts of England and Wales were battered by 80mph gales.

Drivers heading away for the weekend have also been warned to prepare for long delays as stormy weather brought motorway traffic to a standstill across many areas.

The extreme weather will have eased slightly when it crosses Scotland early Saturday morning, but still poses a danger to high-sided vehicles.

Paul Knight, a spokesman for the PA weather centre, said Friday night that the gales were forecast to hit Ayrshire, moving on to Glasgow by mid-day and Aberdeen by Saturday evening.

Scottish Power said its engineers would be working throughout Saturday to ensure that the grid can withstand the worst of the weather.

The electricity utility will be co-ordinating its response to any power lines damaged from a control room in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire.

Senior managers at Prestwick airport, which will receive the worst of the high winds, said they hoped no flights would be disrupted.

[TexasStooge]

To all the people in Scotland, stay safe!