Ferries cancelled and disrupted as strong gales and rain hit Scotland

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, CalMac has warned of widespread ferry disruption due to the weather

More than a dozen ferry routes have been cancelled for the rest of the day as strong gales and heavy rain hit Scotland.

A Met Office yellow warning covers parts of the Highlands and Western Isles until 19:00 with the risk of gusts touching 70mph (113km/h) in places.

Heavy rain is also expected across Scotland as the remnants of Hurricane Isais hit parts of the UK.

All remaining routes on CalMac's west coast ferry network have been warned to expect disruption or cancellation at short notice.

Sailings on 13 services have been cancelled with normal operating hours expected to resume on Thursday.

Anyone travelling is urged to check if their service is running, external before heading out.

Barra Airport and Benbecula Airport have been closed due to strong winds, with all flights cancelled.

Hurricane Isaias was the first Atlantic hurricane of the season and made landfall in the southern US last Friday.

It weakened rapidly and ceased to be a hurricane but its remnants threw heavy rain across the eastern side of North America.

A powerful jet stream scooped up the leftovers over the Atlantic which developed into an area of low pressure undergoing what meteorologists describe as explosive cyclogenesis – also referred to as a weather bomb.

However, the centre of the storm will hit hundreds of miles away, close to Iceland.

Image caption, A Met Office yellow weather warning for wind comes into force on Wednesday morning

In the UK, the far north-west of Scotland will bear the brunt of the winds.

The Met Office has warned of a high risk of moderate impacts including disruption to rail, air and ferry transport, delays on roads and bridges – especially for high-sided vehicles – and possible short-term power cuts.

Widespread gusts of 50-60mph (80.5km/h-96.6km/h) are likely with 70mph (113km/h) possible for exposed coasts and hills around the middle of the day.

Outside the warning area, Shetland is also anticipated to see 50mph (80.5km/h) gusts with less disruption expected.

Gusts of about 40mph (64.4km/h) are possible in other parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and north-west Wales.

The wind and rain is expected to leave overnight, with colder and drier conditions are expected later in the week.

September marked the start of storm season and the Met Office recently released storm names for 2026/27.