Travellers in Scotland are being asked to take care tomorrow and to allow extra time ahead of the expected arrival of the remains of Tropical Storm Katia (formerly Hurricane Katia) early tomorrow morning.
A meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Room this afternoon heard how power companies, transport providers and other partner agencies are preparing for the potential impact of Post-Tropical Storm Katia, which is expected to pass over Scotland tomorrow and Tuesday.
Preparations are being made for wind speeds of up to 60–70 miles per hour in central and southern Scotland, possibly reaching 80 miles per hour over coasts, hills and bridges. The west of Scotland is likely to experience heavy rain.
Transport minister Keith Brown said: “A great deal of work is already well underway to ensure Scotland is prepared for any potential disruption. This afternoon I’ve convened a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room, where I’ve been updated on the steps being taken by utilities, transport providers, police and others to make sure Scotland keeps moving.
“Transport Scotland’s Multi Agency Response Team has been activated and will be up and running before rush hour tomorrow morning. Extra power and transport staff are being moved in to areas likely to be affected, and utility companies are contacting their priority customers.
“Some strong winds and heavy rain are forecast for Monday and Tuesday, and forecasts suggest travel conditions are likely to be difficult. Robust contingency arrangements are in place so people should not panic but we should be prepared. For example, there is likely to be some disruption to roads, rail and ferry services, so travellers are advised to allow more time for journeys.
“The high winds and heavy rain are expected to peak on Monday afternoon and evening, so commuters are advised that if they can leave work earlier that would be a very sensible step to help avoid rush-hour delays. We are all working hard to keep Scotland moving and I urge everyone to allow extra time for travel, avoid unnecessary risks and keep checking websites and local radio for real-time information”.
Up-to-date information on the status of ferries, roads and railways, together with contact information for power companies, will be provided online by the Scottish government’s partner agencies.
www.scotland.gov.uk and www.twitter.com/scotgovweb
Roads information available at www.trafficscotland.org and 0800 028 14 14.
Rail, ferries and air travel – check with individual service operators’ websites.
Scottish Power - www.sppowersystems.co.uk
SSE Hydro – www.ssepd.co.uk
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