SCOTTISH and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has issued a weather warning which could affect electricity networks in northern Scotland.  

The company moved to a Weather Warning status in preparation for the unsettled weather, which may impact electricity networks in the north and west of Scotland, from Tuesday morning till Wednesday evening.

SSEN’s current weather model shows a low-pressure system bringing severe gales to the Western Isles from around midnight on Monday night.

Parts of northern Scotland, including the north of the mainland and the islands of Lewis and Orkney, could see wind speeds of up to 80mph.

The expected peak of the disrupted weather is between 8pm on Tuesday January 31 and 9am on Wednesday February 1.

As the front tracks to the east, strong winds are forecast to hit the north-west Highlands, southern Argyll, Skye, Caithness, the Black Isle, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Orkney and Shetland, bringing wind gusts of over 70mph in exposed and coastal areas and reaching 50-70mph inland.

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In preparation, SSEN has enacted resilience plans, and are increasing additional resources to key locations in anticipation of potential damage to the electricity network.

Customers are advised not to approach any damaged equipment and instead to report it by calling 105.