SCOTLAND is set to be battered by wind and rain from Storm Gerrit.
The storm will bring strong winds and heavy rain to many parts of Scotland on Wednesday, with wintry hazards also likely, forecasters warned.
Yellow wind and rain warnings are in place across much of the UK.
The Met Office said Storm Gerrit could bring delays to road, air and ferry travel, potential power cuts and mobile data outages, as well as a small chance of damage to buildings, injuries from flying debris and injuries from large waves along the coast.
Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said the storm was named as a warning to people coming home from the Christmas holidays.
He said: “Due to the extent of the warnings that are being issued, it was deemed that a named storm would be a good idea because it will highlight to the public the risk associated, particularly as tomorrow is likely to be quite a busy day on the roads with people travelling back home from Christmas and things like that.”
ScotRail has warned passengers of the potential disruption Storm Gerrit may cause, asking those who live by the railway to secure all garden furniture.
In a statement on Twitter/X, Scotrail said: “An unwelcome Christmas present for sure. Gusts of 70mph can be expected, with heavy rain and snow in the mix too for parts of Scotland.
“Live by the railway? Please secure your garden furniture, children’s slides/climbing frames/trampolines!”
#StormGerrit will arrive tomorrow. An unwelcome Christmas present for sure. Gusts of 70mph can be expected, with heavy rain & snow in the mix too for parts of Scotland. Live by the railway? Please secure your garden furniture, children's slides/climbing frames/trampolines! pic.twitter.com/kJYWnL9Jox
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) December 26, 2023
Partridge said wet and windy weather will cover “pretty much the whole of the UK”, with significant snowfall in parts of Scotland.
Anywhere above 200 metres in Scotland and the Shetland Islands is likely to see snow.
A yellow rain and snow warning is in place from 6am to 9pm across much of Scotland on Wednesday.
A wind warning is also in place for northern Scotland and the Shetland Islands.
Wind warning areas can expect gusts of 50-60mph, with up to 70mph on high ground and exposed coasts.
Rain in the warning areas is forecast to be between 40-60mm.
